Former BJP President Bangaru Laxman has termed as "political persecution" the filing of a chargesheet against him by CBI for allegedly taking bribe from representatives of a fictitious armament firm in the Tehelka case.
Congress is always trying to find an opportunity to blame the BJP and they got an opportunity to get the political advantage by chargesheeting me, he told a television news channel.
"As a party president, I was just talking to them and entertaining them when they came and met me and then suddenly they passed on some money saying that it was party donation. Later on in their write-up they claimed it was 'corruption'," Laxman said.
"I think, these are all stories made up by the Tehelka people sold out to CBI for political persecution. I am clear I have defended myself effectively before the Commission (of inquiry). I am hopeful that even the court will know the truth and the case will be cleared," he said.
Asserting that the CBI is trying to frame him, Laxman said, "I have already resigned from the presidentship of the party on moral grounds when the political expose took place. Then I had said that this is only a concocted story. The Commission presided by a Supreme Court Judge was almost finalising it's report and the outcome might go in my favour."
{{/usCountry}}Asserting that the CBI is trying to frame him, Laxman said, "I have already resigned from the presidentship of the party on moral grounds when the political expose took place. Then I had said that this is only a concocted story. The Commission presided by a Supreme Court Judge was almost finalising it's report and the outcome might go in my favour."
{{/usCountry}}The former BJP president claimed that the present government has almost wound up the Commission without extending the time for presenting it's report and then handed the case to CBI.