Uttarakhand: Fresh 'sting video' claims 12 Congress MLAs paid Rs 25 lakh each by Harish Rawat

New Delhi: In a fresh 'sting operation video', that surfaced just two days ahead of the floor test in the Uttarakhand assembly, Congress MLA Madan Singh is seen taking of bribe to at least a dozen party MLAs so that they continue to support ousted chief minister Harish Rawat.

The sting allegedly shows Madan Singh admitting to payment of Rs 25 lakh each to 12 legislators.

It has been done by a news channel that earlier released a video clip allegedly showing Rawat indulging in horse-trading.

"Your brother has this much guts to get money out of him (Harish Rawat). I have got them (Congress MLAs) the money and this conversation is between us. I have got the MLAs 25 lakh each. This was given just for the sake of kharcha paani (personal expenditure)," Bisht said in the video.

"The MLAs haven't demanded the money. I haven't taken a penny, you can ask Harish Rawat. I told him I won't take money, give it to poor MLAs. 12 MLAs were paid. I told Harish Rawat to give the money to the MLAs," he added.

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Taking potshots at Rawat, the Bharatiya Janata Party today said he was power hungry and could go to any extent to remain in power.

"Bribes are being given to MLAs to win their support in Uttarakhand. I call it a 'danavi khel' (diabolical game). This brokering of 'dev bhoomi' (gods' land) should be stopped immediately," BJP MP and former Uttarakhand chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari said.

The Harish Rawat government was dismissed by the Centre under Article 356 of the constitution on March 27 after nine Congress MLAs, led by former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, revolted against Rawat. 

The Supreme Court has fixed May 10 for Rawat to prove his majority in the assembly.