Bettiah/Patna: The political feud between Jan Suraj Party founder Prashant Kishor and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sanjay Jaiswal escalated further on Monday, as the Bettiah MP rejected allegations of diesel theft and demanded an apology.
Speaking at a press conference, Jaiswal presented documents in his defence, claiming that all charges made by Kishor were baseless. “These allegations are false and fabricated. If Prashant Kishor does not apologise, I will pursue both a criminal case and a defamation suit,” Jaiswal said.
The controversy began after Kishor accused Jaiswal of involvement in irregularities at a petrol pump. Jaiswal countered by citing a letter from Bettiah Mayor Garima Devi Sikaria, who had sought an inquiry into fuel supplies. He alleged that a subsequent probe by senior IAS officer Manoj Kumar had been mishandled, noting that the officer demanded GST records even though petrol and diesel are exempt.
“I will take this matter to Delhi. If Manoj Kumar thinks GST applies to petrol and diesel, then he does not deserve to be an IAS officer,” Jaiswal declared.
The BJP MP also claimed that the mayor and officials attempted to shield the agency while shifting blame onto the petrol pump. He revealed that the pump owner plans to file a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against the municipal corporation’s empowered committee.
Jaiswal insisted that neither he nor his family had any role in the alleged mismanagement, dismissing claims that highway alignments had been altered for personal benefit. “We even sought information from the National Highways Authority through RTI, and nothing substantiates these charges,” he added.
Reiterating his stance, Jaiswal said, “If Kishor’s allegations are false, he must apologise. Otherwise, I am prepared to fight this battle legally.”
