Oppn to put CM in the dock over ED raids

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 28

The CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids plus registration of cases against Virbhadra Singh is likely to cast a shadow on the five-day winter session beginning at Dharamsala on November 30.

The BJP’s din against corruption and the Chief Minister’s resignation may get louder on the floor of the Assembly.

Since it is the first session after the registration of a case against the CM by the CBI on September 23 and raids at his private residence Holly Lodge on September 26, the BJP will leave no stone unturned to make corruption the core issue.

The demand for the resignation of the CM which the BJP leadership has been making is likely to echo. It may even wash out the winter session.

The meeting between Virbhadra and Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal to ensure smooth conduct of the session may not yield the desired result as chances of fireworks cannot be ruled out.

“We are going to demand the ouster of the Chief Minister both inside and outside the Assembly as we have planned to hold ‘Virbhadra Hatao-Himachal Bachao’ protest at Dharamsala on December 2,” said state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti.

The BJP is set to corner the government referring to the CBI and ED cases registered against him under disproportionate assets (DA) and money laundering sections.

“The probe against Virbhadra has been initiated during the NDA regime so that he cannot blame the BJP for unleashing political vendetta, which is the only defence he is left with,” said Satti.

The ruling party is also preparing to take on the onslaught from the Opposition. They will try to turn the tables on the BJP by painting the action by the CBI and the ED against Virbhadra as political victimisation. They will also raise the issue of discrimination with non-BJP ruled states as one of the issues.

Even as the session will be brief, the Vidhan Sabha secretariat has already received 200 starred and 81 un-starred questions filed by legislators. The questions pertain to the roster for reservation in the Panchayat elections, poor road condition, shortage of staff in health and educational institutions. So far, no notice has been received from the government for the laying of any Bills even though a decision in this regard could be taken after the Cabinet meeting to be held at Dharamsala in December.