The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday alleged the ‘South lobby’, accused of bribing the party in the excise policy case has direct connections with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The party leaders also alleged that BJP's ally, Telugu Desam Party, has fielded the father of one of the witnesses in the liquor policy case as its candidate from Ongole.
Addressing presspersons, Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj charged Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, father of one of the accused in excise policy case Raghav Manguta Reddy, is TDP’s candidate from Ongole Lok Sabha seat. "I challenge the ED if it is an independent agency to bring in record this connection and probe it," Atishi said and alleged that the BJP has connections with the so-called 'South Lobby' of liquor traders.
Atishi charged the South Lobby of businessmen had direct connections with the BJP. She alleged Sarath Reddy, another witness in the liquor policy case has donated Rs 60 crore to BJP through electoral bonds. “Sharath Reddy donates Rs 60 crore to BJP through electoral bonds. Meanwhile, father-son duo M. Srinivasulu Reddy and Raghav Magunta join BJP's ally TDP And M. Srinivasulu Reddy gets the Lok Sabha ticket,” she charged. Atishi alleged that the ED had been "torturing" the witnesses till it got statements from them against Kejriwal.
Bharadwaj said Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, a former MP of YSR Congress Party joined TDP last year and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now be campaigning for a key witness against Kejriwal in the liquor policy case.
-with agency inputs.
