CM misusing govt machinery: BJP

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 7

Levelling serious corruption charges against ministers in Virbhadra Cabinet, state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti today alleged that two ministers were busy collecting money to foot the bills of lawyers engaged to contest the cases faced by the Chief Minister in various courts of law.

Addressing a press conference here today, Satti said the BJP had raised questions about this in the past and would continue to make it an issue. “In case our allegations are not true then the Chief Minister must inform the people of the state from where he is raising money to foot the bills of lawyers whom he has engaged to contest his cases,” said Satti.

“Our allegation is that the Chief Minister is misusing government machinery and state government helicopter to be present at the court attendance and travel to Delhi in connection with his cases,” he remarked. He said the BJP would make this a big issue as public money cannot be mis-utilized for personal purpose.

Satti also said that once the charge-sheet committee prepares the document, it will not only be submitted to the President of India and the Governor but will also be probed once the BJP returned to power.

“The fact that the BJP will hand over its charge-sheet against the Virbhadra regime to the investigating agency will only be a continuation of the precedent laid down by the Congress Government,” he remarked.

The BJP chief refuted claims of ministers in Virbhadra Cabinet that BJP suffered from serious infighting. ‘The party if fully united and there is no questions of any differences and how can the Congress ministers make this claim as they were not present at the Una meeting,” he said.

He also declined to make any statement about projecting a chief ministerial candidate before the elections. “This is a decision which is taken by the party’s parliamentary board and whatever it is, it will be acceptable to all,” he said.

He added that the party was fully united and all geared up to take on the Congress which will be wiped out of power by the people of the state.