Congress govt has virtually put up state for sale, says Jai Ram

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur today said that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is working hard towards having ‘Holly Lodge-mukt Congress’ in Himachal by dislodging state Congress president Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh.

Addressing a press conference here today, Thakur said CM Sukhu was trying to dislodge Holly Lodge (former CM Virbhadra Singh’s residence). “His first priority clearly appears to have Holly Lodge-mukt Congress and he is working towards sidelining the Congress president (Pratibha Singh) and her minister son (Vikramaditya),” said Thakur.

Thakur alleged that the Congress regime had virtually put up ‘Himachal for sale’ with the High Court ordering attachment of Himachal Bhawan in Delhi and closure of 18 hotels of HP Tourism Corporation.

“Money is being splurged on engaging lawyers for saving the chairs of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) while people are being taxed,” said Thakur.

The former CM alleged that a conspiracy has been hatched to put ‘Himachal on sale’ and the CM has admitted that he is open to handing over loss-making tourism hotels to private players. “I can say with certainty that efforts have been on for the past some time to disinvest the loss-making HPTDC hotels and now, they want to do it in the garb of court order,” he alleged.

He alleged that the ministers are not taken into confidence about the venue for holding the function on the completion of two years of the government. “I wonder what the state government wants to celebrate on completion of two years as the state has gone back by 20 years with no achievement to list,” he said.

He said there was rampant corruption and officers with tainted image were calling the shots.

“The Congress lost all four Lok Sabha seats and lost the Rajya Saba election despite having 40 MLAs. So I wonder what the celebration is about, especially with most of the guarantees like 300 units of free power, one lakh jobs and purchase of cow dung remaining unfulfilled,” he said.

The former CM said that the issue of failed guarantees in Himachal was raised by him and other BJP leaders in the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly polls, which had a positive impact with Congress losing.

He said decisions are being taken without due deliberation, resulting in U-turn by the government on all major issues including toilet tax and enhanced freight in HRTC buses. “The Congress had said all 22 lakh women between 18 to 60 years will be provided monthly financial assistance but now, the majority have been excluded by putting riders,” he said.

Meanwhile, in response to remarks by former CM Jai Ram Thakur, Vikramaditya said, “Holly Lodge enjoys the blessing of Goddess Bhimakali and Lord Rama. Nobody can dare dislodge Holly Lodge as we have the support and blessings of the people of Himachal.” There is no justification in making such statements as there is perfect coordination between the government and the party. So he should not make these kind of statements, said Vikramaditya.

“It’ll be far better if the former CM bothers about his own party. There is no need for him to meddle into affairs of the Congress,” he said.