Sting operation case: Speaker orders probe

The sting by a local television news channel shows BSP MLA Sarbat Karim Ansari expressing his willingness to dislodge the Rawat government

Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwala on Monday ordered a probe into an alleged sting operation against Sarbat Karim Ansari, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member of legislative Assembly from Mangalore, on his purported claim to bring down the Harish Rawat-led Congress government in the state for Rs 50 crore.

"This is a serious matter and I recommend a probe into the entire episode," said Kunjwal. Opposition members were demanding a high-level probe following the alleged sting operation.

The alleged sting by a local television news channel shows Ansari, who is also chairman of the state housing committee, expressing his willingness to dislodge the Rawat government and saying he can manage to get Congress' alliance partner Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) to withdraw its support.

BSP state unit President C P Singh said his party has asked Ansari to send a written reply on the sting operation and described the matter as a serious issue.

Ansari, on the other hand, did not deny the alleged sting operation but said a conspiracy has been hatched to tarnish his image.

"I have asked the chief minister (Harish Rawat) to hold a high-level inquiry to bring out the truth," Ansari told reporters amid the repeated adjournment on the issue.

"What has been shown is very old and someone is trying to tarnish my image. If I am proved guilty then I will resign," said Ansari.

The incident led to a big ruckus inside the Vidhan Sabha with Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party members demanding an investigation into matter on the first day of winter session of the state Assembly.