NEW DELHI: A BJP MLA today slapped a legal notice for defamation on Arvind Kejriwal asking him to pay Rs one crore for "mental agony, harassment" after the AAP chief accused BJP of resorting to horse-trading for government formation in Delhi.
"Since Kejriwal has accused the BJP of trying to buy the support of Congress MLAs for Rs 20 crore each by issuing his audio recorded message, I am very upset as I have been working for my party for 37 years. I didn't have any option but to send him legal notice for defamation," BJP MLA from Rajinder Nagar, R P Singh told reporters here.
In his notice, Singh has asked Kejriwal to tender a public apology to him within seven days for his "false and defamatory" allegations.
"I have also asked Kejriwal to pay Rs one crore for the mental agony, harassment and defamation caused to me," he said.
Singh said, "If Kejriwal fails to do so, I will move court and file a defamation case against him." In his audio recorded message, Kejriwal had alleged that BJP is resorting to dishonest and highly unethical methods of trying to form the government by offering Rs 20 crore each to many MLAs. Is this democracy? It is completely wrong.
"Would a government formed through dishonest means like horse-trading be able to provide safety for women?" Kejriwal said in the recorded message which is expected to be used by AAP to reach out to people by way of phone calls and radio adverstisements.
Currently BJP, along with ally Akali Dal's lone MLA, has 29 legislators and will require the support of five more MLAs to prove majority in the assembly.