H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Approach Lokayukta, CM advises Virbhadra
Shimla, October 18
Prof P.K.Dhumal, Chief Minister, has criticised Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition, for repeatedly levelling allegations of corruption against the state government and asked him to go to the Lokayukta or any other appropriate forum with proofs, so that the people could know the facts.

BJP to face rout in HP poll: Virbhadra
Nurpur, October 18
“The BJP is heading to face rout in the ensuing Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh as it did in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections held recently”. This was stated by LCP leader and former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, while talking to mediapersons at Gurchal yesterday.

Reject resignations of party men: minister
Dharamsala, October 18
The Agriculture Minister and MLA from Kangra, Mr Vidya Sagar, today said he might have to rethink his future strategy if the party high command did not accept his demand of rejecting the resignations of 125 office-bearers of the BJP who had resigned last month in protest against a ‘controversial’ BJP Kangra Mandal meeting held at Kangra on September 22.

Approach Lokayukta, CM advises Virbhadra
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 18
Prof P.K.Dhumal, Chief Minister, has criticised Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition, for repeatedly levelling allegations of corruption against the state government and asked him to go to the Lokayukta or any other appropriate forum with proofs, so that the people could know the facts.

In a statement here today, he said after having committed so many wrongs, including retaining of excess land in violation of land laws, Mr Virbhadra Singh was trying to project himself as an honest person. However, they were not likely to be taken in by his misleading and politically-motivated statements, he said.

Coming down heavily on the former Chief Minister for alleging that the present government had done nothing in the field of hydel power generation, he said the present government had not only ensured completion of the 86 mw Malana hydel project, but also got work started on projects with an aggregate generation capacity of over 800 mw over the past four years.

These included 300 mw Chamera-II, 800 mw Kol Dam, 100 mw Uhl-III and 2051 Parbati project. Besides, memoranda of understanding have been signed for the execution of 133 micro-hydel projects, having aggregate generation capacity of 222.30 mw.

In contrast, Mr Virbhadra Singh could not do anything on this front during his tenure as Chief Minister, spanning over 10 years.

Mr Dhumal said Mr Virbhadra Singh was levelling false charges against the present government regarding various memoranda of understanding even though the present government had maintained complete transparency in signing these agreements. He reminded Mr Virbhadra Singh of the hush-hush manner in which he signed memaranda for setting up cement plants on way at Barog, while returning after medical treatment from AIIMS.

BJP to face rout in HP poll: Virbhadra
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, October 18
“The BJP is heading to face rout in the ensuing Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh as it did in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections held recently”. This was stated by LCP leader and former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, while talking to mediapersons at Gurchal yesterday.

He alleged that the state government headed by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal had become a den of corruption, nepotism and fiscal mismanagement. “Money exchanged hands during appointments and in selection for jobs in government departments during the BJP rule”, he alleged.

He accused the Dhumal government of allocating contracts in the Public Works Department and state electricity board to political favourites of BJP leaders. The LCP leader demanded a CBI probe into the scam investing crores of rupees in the Health Department. “The Congress government if voted to power in the coming Assembly poll will order a high-level enquiry into the scams which occurred during the Dhumal government and expose the corrupt elements”, he asserted.

He alleged that Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal was seeking political gains for his party in the ongoing process of the delimitation of Assembly segments in the state. He said the delimitation was being undertaken after a gap of 30 years on the basis of census of 1991 and contended that it should be based on 2001 census.

Reject resignations of party men: minister
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, October 18
The Agriculture Minister and MLA from Kangra, Mr Vidya Sagar, today said he might have to rethink his future strategy if the party high command did not accept his demand of rejecting the resignations of 125 office-bearers of the BJP who had resigned last month in protest against a ‘controversial’ BJP Kangra Mandal meeting held at Kangra on September 22.

At a press conference at Kangra, Mr Vidya Sagar said he had approached Mr O.P. Kholi, in charge for the state BJP, during his recent visit here with his demand. Mr Kholi had told him that he would consult the state BJP leadership in this connection.

He said he would be forced to ‘rethink’ his future strategy because he would be helpless without this cadre in the forthcoming poll. He said the controversial meeting of Kangra BJP Mandal was attended by some ticket seekers and by those who were not involved in party activities or were unhappy with the party for some reasons.