Barog (Solan), February 3
With active support and inputs provided by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the All-India Congress Committee today released a list of properties alleged to be owned by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, his immediate family members and close relations in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.

Mr Anand Sharma said it was just the beginning. More lists would follow. “ There was a lot of sleaze, corruption and scandals associated with the BJP government in the State. All these will be brought before the people as the campaign for the Assembly elections gears up in days to come”, he added. A lot of bungling was made in recruitments.

From the list of the properties, it became clear today that the Punjab brand of campaign would be launched by the Congress in this state. In Punjab, before the Assembly elections, Capt Amarinder Singh, had levelled similar charges against the then Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

In fact, Capt Amarinder Singh made the beginning of the Punjab-style campaign against Mr Dhumal at Hamirpur a few days ago. At an election meeting at Hamirpur, Capt Amarinder Singh had levelled serious charges of corruption against the Dhumal Government . However, Mr Dhumal had denied the charges and had sent a legal notice to Capt Amarinder Singh and his senior party colleague, Mr Moti Lal Vora, who had also addressed that meeting.

Mr Anand Sharma said Mr Dhumal had a humble beginning. He served first in the LIC and later joined Doaba College at Jalandhar as lecturer. How did he raise an empire worth several crores? He should make his position clear in this connection. First, Mr Dhumal should admit that these properties belonged to his kith and kin.

“The needle of suspicion has started indicating towards Mr Dhumal. He must come clean on the property issue “, Mr Sharma said. There are certain properties which were owned by Dhumal family after Mr Dhumal became Chief Minister.

“We have not questioned the right of Mr Dhumal to own properties. But what we want to know is how Mr Dhumal raised such properties”, Mr Sharma clarified. He said there was rampant corruption in the state during the rule of Mr Dhumal.

Whenever, the issue of corruption was raised by the Opposition, Mr Dhumal denied all charges by saying that there was no truth in it. Even certain BJP leaders had levelled allegations of corruption against Mr Dhumal’s government, he said

As Mr Dhumal belonged to a party “ with a difference”, he should have declared all his and his family’s assets before the Speaker of the Himachal Assembly. But he remained silent about this. “But now the Chief Minister can’t remain silent any more,” he added. Asked why Mr Dhumal and his family members preferred Punjab to expand their “ empire”, Mr Sharma said the Chief Minister should explain this to the people of the state where he was the ruler. “I am not in a position to explain it”, he added.

There was a debt of Rs 50,000 crore on Himachal Pradesh. The state had become virtually bankrupt during Mr Dhumal’s rule. The loan had been raised at relatively high rates from private institutions.

Replying to a question, Mr Anand Sharma said in case the Congress formed the next government, there would be no problem in declaring the assets by its Chief Minister and ministers.