Delhi Assembly adjourned for day as AAP MLAs seek CBI probe into 'Operation Lotus'

Delhi Assembly proceedings were adjourned till Thursday following slogan shouting by ruling AAP MLAs who demanded a CBI probe into the alleged "Operation Lotus" by the BJP.

The AAP members also supported the BJP's demand for a probe into the allegations of poaching of MLAs. At a press conference earlier in the day, the BJP said the claims by AAP MLAs that they have been approached by the BJP and offered up to Rs 20 crore to switch sides is a matter of forensic investigation and they should undergo a lie detector test.

As soon as the House assembled for a discussion on the confidence motion on Wednesday, BJP MLA Vijender Gupta asked Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla to take up his calling attention motion, even as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Atishi tried to raise the issue of alleged "Operation Lotus" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Members of both sides shouted slogans, prompting Birla to adjourn the House till 11.30 am.

The AAP MLAs also torched an effigy of "Operation Lotus" on the Assembly premises.

Gupta's calling attention motion concerned alleged corruption in the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools.

When the House reconvened, Gupta asked Birla under which rule she allowed Atishi to make a statement on issues other than the no-confidence motion.

Atishi alleged that the BJP is an "anti-women party as its members do not allow a woman to speak while another woman is in the chair".

She alleged that the BJP tried to de-establish the Delhi government through its "Operation Lotus which involves three steps -- using central agencies (ED, CBI, Income Tax department), scaring ruling party MLAs and luring them".

"Our MLAs were offered Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore to leave the AAP. Is this the democracy the prime minister talks about from the Red Fort. This is not the first time they are doing so. They did the same in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh," she alleged.

"The BJP has bought 277 MLAs for Rs 6,300 crore under the 'Operation Lotus'. They collected this money by increasing fuel prices," she alleged.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Durgesh Pathak said: "We welcome and support BJP MPs demand for probe into AAP MLAs' poaching allegations."

Party MLA Kuldeep Kumar alleged that when he refused the BJP's offer of Rs 20 crore, "they threatened to frame me and send behind the bars in a fake case".

AAP MLAs raised slogans, demanding CBI probe into alleged "Operation Lotus", following which the House was adjourned for the day.

This was the third day of the special session that was disrupted with ruling AAP and opposition BJP MLAs forcing adjournments.

The session had begun on Friday.