RAIPUR, Jan 12: A new audio tape containing purported conversations between Chhattisgarh Congress president Bhupesh Baghel and Firoz Siddhiqui, a former loyalist of ex-Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, has surfaced, bringing to the fore fissures in the State unit of the party.
In the tape, Baghel could be heard offering a position in the party to Siddhiqui if he agrees to leak to an English newspaper another audio tape containing conversations about “fixing” Antagarh bypoll.
In the new tape, Siddhiqui is heard seeking protection for him and his family from Baghel. Baghel could be heard telling Siddhiqui that “if there is an attack on you, I will protect you. To protect you, I will make you General Secretary (of State Congress).”
Baghel also says he will not give Siddhiqui the party post just now otherwise it would appear he was rewarded for leaking the tapes.
State Congress said there was nothing objectionable in the new tape, while Siddhiqui said he recorded the conversation between him and Baghel on December 9 last year.
Ruling BJP took a dig at Congress, saying the new audio tape has proved that differences existed among the key leaders of the main opposition party.
Ajit Jogi claimed the conversations revealed how a conspiracy was hatched against him and his son Amit, who has been expelled from Congress after the first tape surfaced.
In December, an audio tape was released by an English daily containing several phone conversations purportedly between Ajit, his son Amit, Chief Minister Raman Singh’s son- in-law Puneet Gupta, Congress candidate Manturam Pawar, Siddhiqui and another Jogi loyalist Ameen Memon related to alleged “fixing” of bypoll to Antagarh assembly seat in 2014.
Pawar, then considered an Ajit loyalist, had withdrawn from the fray just a day ahead of the last date for withdrawal and was later expelled from the party. BJP won the bypoll. The tape purportedly contained conversation suggesting money exchanged hands.
In the wake of a political storm following leak of the audio tape, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee expelled Amit, an MLA, for six years and recommended action against his father, a member of the Congress Working Committee, the party’s top decision-making body.
Baghel has confirmed the new audio tape contains his voice.
“There is nothing objectionable in the audio and State party chief Bhupesh Baghel has admitted that the tape contains his voice. He did not lure Siddhiqui with money.
“He just assured to protect him (Siddhiqui) by making him a General Secretary of the party and there is nothing wrong in that,” Chhattisgarh Congress spokesperson Shailesh Trivedi told PTI when asked to comment on surfacing of the fresh tape.
Siddhiqui also said the fresh tape was authentic. “I recorded the conversation between Baghel and me on December 9 last year before the Antagarh bypoll fixing tape was released on December 30 by an English newspaper,” he said.
Siddhiqui said he gradually realised he was being used by people with vested interest so he decided to record the conversation to save his own skin.
Asked if the tape released by the newspaper too featured his voice, Siddhiqui replied in the negative, saying he cannot vouch for its authenticity.
Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi said, “the tape has revealed how a conspiracy was hatched (against him and his family).”
He questioned Baghel’s authority to appoint Siddhiqui a General Secretary without the approval from the central leadership of Congress. “How can Baghel appoint Siddhiqui a General Secretary without taking approval from AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi?”
Ajit hoped the party high-command would take action in the matter as it did when the first audio tape became public.
Meanwhile, BJP National Secretary Ram Vichar Netam said, “The fresh tape has confirmed they (State Congress leaders) are releasing tapes to defame each other and further their own interests.” (PTI)
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