KOZHIKODE: Following the scuffle over fund collection during a BJP meeting in Perambra, Prajeesh Paleri, a pump owner who is also a BJP worker, has come up with a response. He said that even as a BJP worker, the leaders took money from him by threatening to block the construction of the pump.

'Some other workers have had the same experience. I gave Rs 1.10 lakh to office bearers of the BJP Perambra constituency. As I didn't pay another Rs 1.50 lakh, the construction work was stopped. After filing a complaint with the RSS, the work was allowed to continue. I have secured all the documents to start a pump. I will file a complaint with the BJP central leaders and the police in the incident.", said Prajeesh.

Meanwhile, district secretary VK Sajevan said that a BJP committee has been appointed to investigate the incident during the BJP meeting. "Some people came thinking that the meeting was going on based on rumors spread on social media. The video of them being sent back is now circulating. That is being portrayed as a scuffle. The party has decided to investigate how they reached the meeting and who sent them. The allegation of bribery was made by a member of the party. The party will investigate this. The video of collecting money for the party fund was the one that came out on social media", Sajeevan said.

Prajeesh is a former BJP leader and RSS activist. BJP Perambra Constituency President and some office bearers took Rs 1.10 lakh saying that they can solve the problem related to unloading of soil for the construction of his petrol pump. They again asked for money but Prajeesh did not relent. Prajeesh released footage of the leaders taking money after the construction of the petrol pump was stopped.

After this, a meeting of the BJP Perambra constituency office-bearers that took place yesterday resulted in a conflict. The faction that questioned the collection of money assaulted the leaders who came to the meeting. The constituency president was also beaten up. The conflict took place in the presence of district general secretary M Mohanan, secretary Shiny Joshi and others. BJP Perambra constituency president Rajeesh said that Rs 25000 was taken from Prajeesh for the party fund three months ago and other allegations are baseless.