Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Thursday urged a judicial investigation into "Operation Lotus" by a Supreme Court judge in response to Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) accusations that the BJP was trying to overthrow the Punjab government by stealing its MLAs. Both the parties have now come face to face.
On one side, Aam Aadmi Party is putting serious allegations against BJP, whereas on the other hand, BJP is also claiming that Aam Aadmi Party is playing dirty politics to divert the mind of the public from the state issues.
Punjab BJP has also demanded an investigation into the matter by a retired judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court. Aam Aadmi Party alleges that BJP is trying to bribe their MLAs.
In a meeting with Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit, BJP state president Ashwani Sharma demanded a high-level investigation into the incident.
"Since the Aam Aadmi Party has broken its promises made during the Punjab elections, the leaders are currently attempting to divert public attention by making such accusations against the BJP that we are trying to buy their MLAs. These claims are unfounded, and they contain no truth, according to Sharma.
Cheema responded to BJP leaders' meeting with Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit by saying, "BJP engaged in poaching in other states like Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam. Not only Punjab. Where Operation Lotus occurred in each of these states needs to be part of the investigation.
Cheema declined to reveal the identities of the BJP leaders against whom the Punjab Police had received evidence, leading to the Wednesday filing of an FIR.