Transport minister declares assets; HP Cong says it will be in manifesto

Shimla, March 30

With just few months for the assembly polls, Himachal Pradesh Transport minister G S Bali on Thursday declared assets worth Rs 70 crore and the Congress said it will be made mandatory for its MLAs from the next elections.

Addressing a press conference at state Congress office here, he declared that he has assets worth around Rs 70 crore and loan liabilities of Rs 16 crore.

Bali said he owned a flat in Delhi worth Rs 5 crore, had purchased a hotel worth Rs 5.50 crore and also took a loan of Rs 9.50 crore for the purpose.

The Minister said during 2016-17, he paid Rs 72 lakh income tax and Rs 69 lakh in the previous year.

He also owns plot of land measuring about 16 kanals and has fixed deposits.

His other assets, which he said were acquired before his becoming an MLA in 1998, included a hotel and an industrial unit.

Asked about what was the provocation of declaring his assets when the term of present assembly is coming to an end, Bali said, "Transparency is necessary in public life and he has responded to his conscience."

He said his son would also declare his assets shortly but did refused to make any comment on whether other politicians should follow the suit.

Himachal Pradesh is likely to go to polls later this year.

State Congress president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu, who had declared his assets last year, termed it a "welcome move".

"Making declaration of assets mandatory after being elected as an MLA would be included in the election manifesto for 2017 assembly polls," he added.

Commenting on Sukkhu's statement, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that he would have no role in drafting the manifesto of Congress for 2017 assembly polls. — PTI