CM defends appointments

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 18

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today defended the appointments of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of boards and corporations and said the decision was taken keeping in view the interests of the government and the party.

“We had never said the appointments would not be made. Unlike the Congress government, which made large-scale appointments immediately after coming to power, we waited for 10 months,” he said, adding that more appointments were not ruled out.

Rejecting the allegations of Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri that appointments had been made to contain the growing resentment in the party, Jai Ram said the Congress should focus on growing factionalism in the party and set its own house in order.

“We are aware of what is going on in the Congress, who is lobbying for post of the HPCC chief, who is eyeing the post of leader of the opposition and the turmoil in the party,” he said in an informal chat with a group of mediapersons.

He said his government was functioning without any pressure from any quarter but consultations with senior leaders was a normal practice which did not mean that the government was acting under pressure.

The Congress tried to negate all initiatives taken by the government but was on the back foot when these started showing results and the party had been forced to redraft its strategy. The Congress was upset with the success of “Jan Manch” programme which was gaining popularity with each passing day and making wild and frivolous allegations but the government would not be deterred, he asserted.