Wrong to take loan just before poll: Dhumal

Our Correspondent

UNA, SEPTEMBER 24

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Prem Kumar Dhumal today said that the decision of the Virbhadra Singh government to seek additional loan amounting to Rs 700 crores was not right. Addressing media persons while on way to Delhi, he said the decision will put an extra burden on the state’s exchequer.

Dhumal said it was Virbhadra Singh’s old habit of taking huge amounts of loans just before the expiry of his term to seek cheap publicity. He said the BJP governments have been forced to re-pay the installments when they come to power. He quipped that Virbhadra Singh’e ideology was the same as that of ancient Indian sage Chavarak, who believed in living happily on the basis of the loans secured.

Dhumal said BJP chief Amit Shah’s rally at Kangra had inthused the party cadres, who have fanned out to their respective areas to campaign for the BJP.

Reiterating that a number of Congress ministers and MLAs were ready to join the BJP, he said these leaders have been categorically told to join the BJP unconditionally.

Dhumal said the Central and state BJP leaders are keen to decide party candidates for the Assembly elections at the earliest. The BJP has conducted many surveys across the length and breadth of the state, which will help the party identify the winning candidates for the elections. He added that winnability would be the only criteria for allocation of party tickets for the Assembly elections.