Sukhu has weakened party: Virbhadra

Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, February 19

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has failed to deliver as the party president and his policies have weakened the Congress in the state.

This was stated by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today. Blaming Sukhu for the debacle in the recent Assembly elections, Virbhadra claimed that the most unfortunate thing for the Congress was that it was in the hands of such people who do not have mass base at the grass-roots level.

He claimed that if the state president was not changed in the state, the Congress would face same results in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Virbhadra categorically said he would refrain from canvassing in the Lok Sabha elections if the present setup of the Congress organisation continued to prevail.

“I will be miles away from the Lok Sabha elections if Sukhu remains the HPCC president,” he added.

He said he would not contest the Lok Sabha election and would encourage young people to come forward.

Speaking on the performance of the BJP government in the state, Virbhadra said it would be too early to comment, adding that Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was an honest man but less experienced and needed time to understand governance.

On the unrest in Janjehli over the issue of the SDM office, he said the Congress was not party to it. On the accusation that the CM office was working under the influence of the RSS, Virbhadra said two of the three Officers on Special Duty were from the RSS and the accusation of the Congress was on facts and beyond doubt.

Speaking on the BJP government reviewing decisions taken by the Congress for opening various institutions, including health, education and administrative, he said all decisions were taken as per requirement and demand of the people of the state. So far none of the decisions taken by the Congress government was reverted, he added.

On the performance of PM Narendra Modi, he said it was unfortunate that the PM and BJP leaders were “playing politics of religion, region, cast and creed”. “This is not good for the nation,” he said.