Cong leaders put up united face, allege corruption in health department

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 15

In a show of unity senior Congress leaders came together in Dharamsala for a press conference today.

“We are united and will take up the issues of public,” Kaul Singh Thakur and GS Bali, former Rajya Sabha member Viplove Thakur and former MP Chander Kumar attempted to put up a united face of the party.

Addressing mediapersons, Kaul Singh Thakur alleged that corruption was running deep in government departments. The Health Department officials had purchased oxymeters in Punjab at a cost of Rs 500 per piece while they were available here at Rs 2,950 per piece. The oxygen cylinders had also been purchased at exorbitant rates. A vigilance inquiry must be carried out into the purchases made by the present government during the lockdown, the former minister said.

Allegations

• Kaul Singh Thakur said oxymeters and oxygen cylinders had been purchased at exorbitant rates
• GS Bali said the government was compromising financial stability by agreeing to raise loans for GST compensation cess
• Former MP Viplove Thakur said women safety threatened under the BJP rule
• Ex-MP Chander Kumar said farm laws would destroy marketing system in the country

He alleged that in the IPH Department, material was being purchased even before tenders had been issued. After coming to power, the Congress government would hold all officials of the IPH department accountable, even if they retire from service.

Bali questioned the decision of the present government in following the diktat of the Union Government by agreeing to raise loans from the RBI for GST compensation cess that was to be paid to the state. He said the annual increase in GST compensation cess was the legal right of the state government and even the Attorney General (AG) of India had held that up in his advice. While the states like Punjab were asking the Centre to give their due, the Himachal Government had bowed to its diktat and agreed to raise loan. The way the state government was raising loans even to pay salaries of employees and not concentrating on revenue generation, the days were not far when it would face an economic collapse, he maintained.

Viplove Thakur alleged that the women were not safe under the BJP government. The Union Government was just trying to divide the country on communal lines to get votes. It had infringed on the rights of labourers, unemployed and poor classes by pushing amendments during the Covid-period, she alleged.

Meanwhile, Chander Kumar said farm Bills brought by the present government would destroy the cooperative farming and marketing system that had developed in the country over the past few decades. Farmers all over the country were protesting against the Bills but the PM was “telling lies” that they would serve the interests of farmers. The Bills were against the interests of both farmers and consumers in the country.

The Congress leaders criticised the state government for removing the plaque of Sonia Gandhi from Rohtang tunnel. In case the plaque was not reinstalled, they said the party would launch an agitation.

They would be touring through the state to raise voice against the lack of governance under the BJP rule, the leaders stated.

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