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Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Saturday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to ensure the “release” of 22 Congress legislators held “captive” in Bengaluru.
The BJP has held these MLAs captive, Nath alleged in the four-page letter.
“Please use your power as Union home minister so that 22 Congress MLAs held captive can safely reach Madhya Pradesh and participate in the Assembly session beginning from March 16 without any allurement and fear,” the letter, shared by Congress spokesperson with the media, said.
Twenty-two Madhya Pradesh MLAs, supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia who left the Congress to join the BJP, have resigned, reducing the Kamal Nath-led government to a minority in the Assembly.
Nath assured Shah in the letter that the Congress government in the state will provide excellent security to these 22 MLAs, if they are “released”.
Earlier this month, Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Rambai and his family members were freed from the “captivity” of BJP leaders in Gurugram (Haryana), Nath claimed.
Later, three Congress MLAs and an independent were taken to Bengaluru by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Arvind Singh Bhadoriya as was evident from the list of passengers of the charter plane, he alleged.
On March 9, 19 MLAs were taken to Bengaluru by BJP leaders by three charter planes, Nath claimed.
Their “personal communication facilities” (mobile phones) were taken away and they were held captive and the Karnataka BJP is bearing the expenses of their stay in Bengaluru, he alleged.
Resignations of these MLAs were submitted to Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker in Bhopal by BJP MLA Bhupendra Singh, he pointed out.
“This is an unprecedented situation” because on the one hand the BJP is holding them captive and on the other hand it is demanding a floor test, Nath said, adding that a trust vote has no meaning in this situation.
Mentioning that Governor Lalji Tandon had informed him on Friday that these MLAs should be given CRPF security, Nath said if the Karnataka police secure their ‘release’, his government would provide them with maximum security.
Earlier in the day, MP BJP delegation had called on the governor and demanded a floor test before the beginning of the budget session on March 16.
BJP meets Governor
Madhya Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party met Governor Lalji Tandon on Saturday demanding that the state government under Chief Minister Kamal Nath prove his majority on the floor of the state assembly.
Senior BJP leader Shivraj Chouhan, who led the delegation, said his party wanted a trust vote on Sunday—a day before Madhya Pradesh government under Kamal Nath presents its budget.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Tandon, senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “We have submitted a memorandum to the governor. Twenty-two MLAs have resigned. They have confirmed their resignations by issuing videos. Now, the Kamal Nath government is in minority and does not have the constitutional right to continue”.
“We have said there is no meaning to the governor’s address, no meaning of the budget session. So, before the budget session, there should be a floor test,” he said.
Chouhan said the trust vote should be done by division of votes and a voice vote, should be held under an observer appointed by the governor, and must be videographed.
Chouhan claimed the state government was alluring, pressuring and threatening the kin of these MLAs, and cases were registered against the legislators.
“Our leader (Jyotiraditya) Scindia ji was attacked on Friday. MLAs (who resigned) have demanded security of central forces and don’t want to return (from Bengaluru) without it,” he claimed.
The BJP delegation included Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava, former union ministers Narottam Mishra, Bhupendra Singh, and Rampal Singh.
The Congress-led Kamal Nath government is on the brink after senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia revolted and joined the BJP, and several of the latter’s supporter MLAs tendered their resignations.
Congress issues whip
The Congress meanwhile issued a whip to its MLAs to be present in the Assembly during the session starting from March 16.
Chief whip of the Congress Govind Singh on Saturday issued a three-line whip where he said that it is mandatory for all the MLAs to be present on all working days from March 16 to April 13 of the fifth session of the Assembly.
The whip also said that all the members should vote in favour of the government.
