Virbhadra distorting facts: Dhumal

UNA: Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal today charged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh with misleading the public regarding the criminal investigations against him and his family members, besides unnecessarily blaming the BJP for the disproportionate assets case registered by the CBI against him at Delhi.

Leader of the Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal along with BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti addresses mediapersons in Una on Tuesday. Photo: Rajesh Kumar

Our Correspondent

Una, November 17

Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal today charged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh with misleading the public regarding the criminal investigations against him and his family members, besides unnecessarily blaming the BJP for the disproportionate assets case registered by the CBI against him at Delhi.

Addressing media persons here, he said it was ridiculous that the Congress leaders, who have been opposing the CM, were seen lending him support at the Shimla rally on Monday.

Dhumal said Virbhadra Singh was in the habit of distorting facts, adding that the disproportionate assets case pertained to the years 2009-10 and 2010-11 when the UPA was in power. Further, the case was registered on the basis of a PIL filed by Prashant Bhushan on behalf of a Delhi-based NGO Common Cause in 2013 and the BJP had nothing to do with it.

The former Chief Minister said after the Narendra Modi government took over reins, Virbhadra Singh has been publicly stating that the Dhumal family had lost its significance in Delhi, questioning that if this was true, how he (Dhumal) and his MP son could influence the CBI and Enforcement Directorate against the Chief Minister.

Responding to the special investigation team constituted by the government to probe the properties owned by the Dhumal family, the BJP leader said during the previous Congress rule, Virbhadra Singh had made similar attempts through investigations into the alleged recruitments on political recommendations through the SSSB. But honest officers had declined to register false cases. He said he was confident that officers will act rationally and honestly even this time.

Dhumal said it was unfortunate for the CM to make public remarks against the Governor. He said such utterances degrade the status of the high offices of the Governor and the Chief Minister.

As regards the Chief Minister heaping praises on veteran Shanta Kumar at Shimla rally, Dhumal said Vidhan Sabha records would reveal Virbhhadra Singh’s allegations and negative remarks against senior the BJP leader.

The former CM condoled the death of senior VHP leader Ashok Singhal. He termed him as a person who dedicated his entire life towards social service. He said Singhal led the VHP from the front. BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti and district BJP president Balbir Bagga were also present.