M A I N   N E W S

Virbhadra stays away from PCC meeting
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 16
The CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh and a number of his loyalists abstained from the first meeting of the newly set up executive committee of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) which was convened here today by the PCC chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes.

On the other hand, loyalists of Mrs Stokes are learnt to have (without naming Mr Virbhadra Singh) demanded disciplinary action against those who were organising “parallel rallies” against the BJP government without the prior approval of the AICC or permission of the District Congress Committees.

Prominent among those who did not participate in the meeting of the executive are, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir (general secretary), Mrs Anita Verma (vice-president), Mr Harsh Wardhan Chauhan (secretary), Mr Yogendra Chandra has refused to accept the post of secretary in the PCC protesting that this was a demotion for him.

Mr G. S. Bali, who was considered in the Virbhadra Singh camp, attended the meeting. While Mr Sat Mahajan did not come to the meeting, his son, Mr Ajay Mahajan participated.

Mrs Chandresh Kumari, president of the All-India Mahila Congress and Mr Anand Sharma, spokesperson for the AICC, who were recently nominated to the PCC executive by Mrs Sonia Gandhi, were also prominent absentees. They had some prior engagements, Stokes loyalists claimed. Prominent among those who participated in the meeting were, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, former Chief Minister, Mr J.B.L. Khachi, Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, former MP and Mr Ranglia Ram Rao.

Mr Kuldeep Singh Rathore, spokesman for the PCC, said it was decided at the meeting that disciplinary action would be taken against those who had filed cases in courts against the organisational elections in case they failed to withdraw these cases within 15 days. Addressing the meeting Mrs Stokes stressed the need for maintaining discipline and unitedly fight the “communal and corrupt” BJP government at the Centre as well as in the state. Mr Rathore said it was decided to hold a state-level protest against the “Tehelka episode” at Nagrota Bagwan in Kangra district on April 28. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Virbhadra Singh group has decided to abstain from the organisational meetings of Mrs Stokes until they were given adequate representation in the PCC.