11 Virbhadra loyalists hit back at HPCC ex-chief

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 14

The verbal duel between Virbhadra Singh and Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu seems to have fuelled infighting within the Congress as 11 legislators owing allegiance to the former Chief Minister today hit back at the outgoing state Congress president.

In a joint statement, the legislators have condemned Sukhu’s attack on the former Chief Minister. The statement, however, does not bear the signature of any MLAs whose names are written in the press release.

“The statement by Sukhu is not just an insult to Virbhadra but to the entire party and the state as he is a national level senior Congress leader from the days of Jawaharlal Nehru. He has remained Chief Minister six times, a union minister and headed the party in the state,” the statement read.

The statement mentions the names of Asha Kumari, Dhani Ram Shandil, ID Lakhanpal, Nand Lal, Jagat Singh Negi, Mohan Lal Brakta, Rajinder Rana, Vinay Kumar, Pawan Kajal, Vikramaditya Singh and Ashish Butail.

“The remarks by Sukhu against Virbhadra appear to be a sign of frustration on being replaced as Congress president,” they said. They supported the change made by AICC president Rahul Gandhi.

They also took strong exception to the blame for defeat in polls that Sukhu had put on Virbhadra. “It is obvious that the responsibility of defeat or victory is on the party chief and instead of taking moral responsibility and resigning, he is trying to shift the blame on others,” they said.

They said a majority of the candidates who were fielded by Sukhu in the Assembly elections lost their security. The MLAs said Virbhadra had no personal differences with Sukhu and had always spoken in party interest. “It is in the interest of the party that we urge Sukhu to work unitedly with everyone to ensure BJP defeat in the Lok Sabha polls,” they said.