Cong releases audio clip of ‘Reddy wooing its MLA’

BJP calls it 'fake'

A day before the floor test in the Legislative Assembly, the Congress released an audio clip that it claimed contained a conversation in which mining baron G Janardhana Reddy is supposedly trying to woo Congress MLA Basanagouda Daddal. The BJP called it “fake” and “fabricated.”

Congress leaders V S Ugrappa and M V Rajeev Gowda released the audio clip at a press conference on Friday. Daddal is the Raichur Rural MLA-elect. He was earlier with the BJP and then with the BSR Congress.

“Whatever assets you have, you will get 100 times more,” a voice purportedly that of Reddy is heard telling Daddal.

“I’m telling you directly...the big man, the national president (Amit Shah) will himself speak to you. Whatever you want, whatever post, you can talk one-to-one. I’ll make sure you talk to him.” The other voice, supposed to be that of Daddal, says, “Sorry sir, when I was on my last legs, they gave me ticket. In this situation I can’t betray them. I have respect and affection for you, but...” and the audio clip ends.

BJP leader Prakash Javadekar told reporters: “This audio clip is a handiwork of the Congress’ dirty tricks department. This is a fake audio clip.”

Earlier in the day, former chief minister Siddaramaiah called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah as “Hitler’s fossils.” He said there was more evidence on how Reddy, B Sreeramulu and other BJP leaders were trying to woo Congress MLAs. “Amit Shah has beautifully followed Joseph Gobbel’s propaganda theory. Sadly for him, it didn’t work in Karnataka,” the senior Congress leader said.

DH has obtained the purported clip in question. Please note that DH cannot independently vouch for the veracity of this clip.

Transcript of the call

Male voice: Janardhan sahebru will speak to you if you are free.

Basanagouda: Give. Give.

Janardhan: Basanagouda...are you free?

Basanagouda: Yes, I’m free sir...

Don’t remember all the bad things that happened in the past. I am telling you in the middle of the night that good times have started for me. I’m telling you directly. The big man, the national president will himself speak to you. Whatever you want, whatever post, you can talk one-to-one and we take a step forward.

Basanagouda: It won’t happen, sir...When I was on my last legs, they helped me when I was really down...

Janardhan: I have only one point to tell you. During the BSR time, it was a very bad time for me where there was a very hostile environment. We have all lost a lot, there are no two words on that. You will grow a 100 times if you listen to me. You know Shivanagouda Naik, he listened to me and became a minister. Hasn’t he become strong now as an MLA and a man who can stand on his own feet? Didn’t all of it happen because of me? What about Raju Gouda? Didn’t he become, because of me? Your tragedy, in our bad time, you and we didn’t match. But today, Shivanagouda Naik, even if he wins, it is of no use. You will become a minister. Do you understand? I will make you sit with the big man, one to one and I will myself make sure both of you talk. This country, the way they are giving the administration, you are seeing it. Whatever assets you have, you will get 100 times more, Basanagouda.

Basanagouda: Sorry sir. When I was on my last legs, they gave me the ticket, these leaders. In this situation, I can’t betray them. I have respect and affection for you...

The audio clip ends.