Ready for open debate with opposition on sting CD case: Harish Rawat

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has accepted the opposition BJP's "challenge" for an open debate on the sting operation case in which he has been purportedly shown negotiating a deal to buy support of disgruntled party MLAs at the time of the recent political crisis in the state.

"I am ready for an open debate on the issue on a public platform if some of our friends want this," he told reporters here yesterday.

Uttarakhand BJP president Ajay Bhatt had recently dared Rawat to an open debate on the sting CD case.

"If the CM has the moral courage he should come to Gandhi Park or to any other public place and debate the sting operation with me before people in general and the media," Bhatt had said in a statement here on Thursday.

The BJP leader was reacting to reports in a section of the media here, saying Rawat had given a clarification on the sting operation at his residence before a gathering of people he had invited at a programme called 'Jan Samwad'.

The sting CD is currently being investigated by the CBI.

Defending his decision to hold a direct dialogue with people in the form of 'Jan Samwad' on the sting CD, Rawat said it was a healthy initiative by the state government.

"However, if this has not gone down well with some of our friends, I am ready for an open debate on it on a public forum," he said.