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Himachal Cong backs Virbhadra
HPCC chief says BJP charge malicious
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 2
Himachal Pradesh Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu came out in defence of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for the first time today. In a statement, Sukhu said the allegations levelled by BJP leader Arun Jaitley against the Himachal CM were malicious and politically motivated.

The Congress high command had reportedly sought a detailed report from the party organisation in the state on allegations faced by Virbhadra Singh.

Sukhu sent a report to the party’s central leadership yesterday saying most of the allegations levelled by BJP leader Arun Jaitley were the same as had been levelled by him before the Assembly elections in December 2012. He is also learnt to have made a reference to the case pending against Virbhadra in the Delhi High Court filed by Prashant Bhushan on behalf of an NGO, Common Cause.

It is for the first time ever since the controversy regarding loans taken by Virbhadra Singh and his MP wife Pratibha Singh erupted that a statement has been issued by the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) defending the CM.

Sukhu’s statement is being considered politically significant, as he has never been known as a Virbhadra loyalist. “The fact that Sukhu has chosen to break his silence is an indication that he has been directed by party bigwigs in Delhi to back Virbhadra at this crucial juncture,” sources said.

“The allegations levelled by Jaitley are malicious and politically motivated and there is nothing new in them. He had made similar charges against Virbhadra Singh even before the Assembly poll in December 2012,” said Sukhu along with other office-bearers of the HPCC, including Chander Kumar, Gangu Ram Musafir, Kuldeep Pathania, Ajay Mahajan, Ravi Thakur, Geeta Negi and others.

“The CM has already said that he is ready for a CBI probe and he will co-operate in investigations, but we demand that the BJP leaders should prove the charges or quit politics as the CM has also promised to do so, if proven guilty,” Congress leaders said.

Allegations fly

Shimla: While Virbhadra Singh maintains there is nothing illegal in him along with his MP wife Pratibha Singh taking a loan of Rs 3.90 crore from Vakamullah Chandershekhar, former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal says taking a loan from a person executing a project raises the question of propriety.