Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday said the persons arrested in connection with the "TRS MLAs poaching case" were planning to topple four state governments including his own and Congress-ruled Rajasthan and appealed to the judiciary to safeguard democracy.
At a press conference here, Rao referred to the recent 'TRS MLAs poaching case' and played a video allegedly concerning the episode in which three persons were arrested.
"They openly say in the video we already dethroned eight (state) governments. And how they conducted the operation. Now we (the men) are in the process of dethroning four governments, i.e Telangana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan," he said.
Rao said the appeals to the judicial system in the country to "protect the democracy in the country" and to punish the culprits whoever it is, was vis-a-vis "purchasing MLAs".
"Henceforth, it becomes the prime duty of every democratic thinker and I expect honourable Supreme court CJ and also honourable judges of the supreme court, honourable CJs of all High courts to discuss and take all required steps, whatever they are in accordance with law."
"Please punish the culprit who so ever it is. This kind of open purchasing of MLAs, dethroning governments..." he said.
The three men arrested in the case took the names of top leaders, Rao said.
Condemning the claims of the three persons in strong words, he said the men spoke about dethroning non-BJP governments.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP heads the Delhi government while YSRCP is in the ruling saddle in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Rao said such video evidence has already been submitted to the High Court in connection with the MLAs poaching case.
He further said he will send all the evidence he got in the "TRS MLAs poaching case" to the Chief Justice of India, CJs of all High Courts, media houses, CBI and ED for their knowledge.
He also requested the CJI and judges to "protect the country and safeguard democracy."
He said Home Minister Amit Shah himself speaking at a public meeting in Munugode in October had said within one month the TRS Government will go away.
Rao said he appeals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get "this kaand" (scandal) stopped and to arrest those responsible in it.
"I had made this suggestion to to you Modi ji. I make today also. Stop this 'kaand'... Accept the respect of democracy," he said.
He also said he will take up a struggle to fight on the issue and to save democracy.
The Cyberabad Police on October 26 filed an FIR against three persons who allegedly tried to coax four TRS legislators into defecting, even as BJP leadership in Telangana vehemently denied having any knowledge of the alleged poaching of TRS MLAs by their party.
Based on a complaint by Pilot Rohith Reddy, one of the legislators, cases under relevant sections criminal conspiracy, offering bribe and Prevention of Corruption Act-1988 were filed against the trio- Ramachandra Bharati@ Satish Sharma, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy.
