Jairam’s remark sign of frustration: BJP

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 4

Allegations levelled by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh against former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and the HPCA are the result of frustration in the Congress, said former state BJP president and MLA, Shimla, Suresh Bhardwaj.

In a statement issued here today, he said the then BJP government had adhered to the rules and leased out the land to the HPCA. He said the HPCA reciprocated the gesture of the government by building a beautiful cricket stadium of international standards. They also hosted international matches bringing Dharamsala on international map in terms of tourism.

Bhardwaj said the corruption charges against Virbhadra and his family members were being inquired by the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and income tax authorities and in retaliation Jairam Ramesh was being used to spread false propaganda to divert the attention of the public. He said the allegation of leasing land worth Rs 100 crore to the HPCA was baseless as the Virbhadra government, which had conducted investigations, believed itself that the land was worth Rs 30 lakh only.

Taking notice of the statements of Congress leaders against veteran BJP leader and MP Shanta Kumar, BJP state spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said it was due to the weak leadership of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh that the Congress lost 53 out of the 68 Assembly constituencies in the last Lok Sabha elections.