Yashwant’s bag remark on Koda sparks LS furore

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha triggered furore in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with his remarks that former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who was backed by the Congress, used to provide “bags” to sports minister Ajay Maken to save his government. HT reports.

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha triggered furore in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with his remarks that former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who was backed by the Congress, used to provide “bags” to sports minister Ajay Maken to save his government.

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“Ajay Maken as Congress’ Jharkhand in-charge used to visit Ranchi and threaten Madhu Koda that his (Koda) government would be toppled. After that he used to return with bags that got bigger and bigger over a period,” claimed Sinha.

As soon as Sinha made the allegations during a debate relating to the scams connected to the Commonwealth Games, Koda and Congress MPs protested against the accusation.

Maken, who was incharge of party unit as AICC secretary in Jharkhand, objected to Sinha’s remarks saying “this is wrong.”

Sinha said, “I have not made any allegation. I have not said anything that is against parliamentary procedures so there is no question of taking back my statement. I only said that it’s a big bag. It could be bags full of jackfruits or mangoes.”

Koda said he was once an ally of the BJP and could reveal a lot about the party. “I know everything about them also as I was with them (BJP),” he said.

Maken said, “You don’t want to debate the issue.” Congress MP Satpal Maharaj, who was in the chair, declared that all objectionable statements would be deleted from the records. Speaker Meira Kumar will decide on Wednesday in this regard.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal requested Sinha to withdraw his statement on Maken and Koda but Sinha refused to heed.

Other BJP members shouted slogans “now it is clear that UPA government is corrupt”. The trouble saw the House being adjourned for sometime, and later for the day.

Sinha said the Delhi CM had indulged in massive corruption in conduct of the Games. Quoting letters, he said OC was registered as a society in February 2005 with Kalmadi as head after “series of discussions” with the Prime Minister and UPA chairperson (Sonia Gandhi).