BJP wanted to lease out HPTDC hotels: Chauhan

Launching a counter attack on the BJP, Naresh Chauhan, Principal Advisor (Media) to Chief Minister, today alleged that a proposal to outsource the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) hotels was mooted during the previous BJP government.

“It was done so secretively that the BJP ministers had no clue about it. It was dropped only after a hue and cry was raised against it in Vidhan Sabha,” said Chauhan while addressing the media here today.

“At a time when the BJP is attacking the government over the High Court’s decision to shut down 18 HPTDC hotels, the government can start an inquiry and find out how and why the proposal to lease out the hotels was prepared during the BJP government headed by Jai Ram Thakur,” said Chauhan.

Chauhan also attacked the BJP for trying to corner the government on the issue of High Court ordering the attachment of Himachal Bhawan over the unpaid upfront premium to a power company.

“We are fighting a legal battle with the company as the government feels the company has caused a huge loss to the state by not implementing the project,” he said. “But what did the BJP do in a similar case Jangi-Thopan and Thopan-Powari Hydel electric projects (960 MW) in Kinnaur when the Adani Power Limited moved the court to claim upfront premium of Rs 280 crore. Unlike the current government, the BJP government decided to pay the premium back to Adani Power Limited. It was our government which went to the court and won the case against Adani Power Limited,” said Chauhan.

Chauhan further accused the BJP of tarnishing the image of the government in other states for petty political gains.