Sisodia must cooperate with CBI in probe: Manoj Tiwari

The BJP on Friday attacked the Delhi government after the CBI recorded Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's statement in connection with alleged irregularities in award of 'Talk to AK' campaign work, saying the government should cooperate in the probe.

"The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been investigating this ('Talk to AK') matter for quite some time now and today (Friday) it has given an opportunity to Sisodia to file his statement," Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Manoj Tiwari told reporters here.

"He (Sisodia) must cooperate with the investigating agency in the ongoing probe," the BJP leader added.

On January 18, the CBI registered a preliminary inquiry against Sisodia and some unnamed state government officials to probe alleged irregularities in the award of work related to the campaign.

The complaint was filed by the Delhi government's Vigilance Department.

Tiwari also said that the 'Talk to AK' was not a solitary or last case of misuse of public money by the Arvind Kejriwal government by putting undue pressure on authorities.

The BJP leader then said that giving a contract of Rs 95 lakh on the basis of just a "single tender" is an "open loot of public money".

Tiwari, who represents the northeast constituency of Delhi in the Lok Sabha, said that Chief Minister Kejriwal or Sisodia do not seem to have taken any lesson from the 'Talk to AK' controversy.

"Recently, the AAP government again put undue pressure on officials to arrange a Facebook live programme without following the guidelines and hence there is need for stern action against Kejriwal government in the matter," he said.

Lashing out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for playing-the-victim card, Tiwari said: "Whenever the investigating agencies ask them to cooperate in the probe, they start shouting 'Bachao Bachao' (save us, save us) and play the victim card."

Tiwari also advised the Delhi Chief Minister to prove his government's innocence or be ready to face the legal consequences.

The 'Talk To AK' campaign was an interactive session of the Chief Minister, through which people could reach out to the AAP leader via social media.

--IANS

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