Congress misused official machinery, power to influence voters: Jai Ram Thakur

Shimla, July 10

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur today accused the Congress of misusing power and official machinery to win the byelections. Thakur, while talking to mediapersons here, accused the ruling party of snooping on BJP leaders and workers.

He said, “During campaigning in all three Assembly segments, I had seen that the voter mood was in favour of the BJP but the Congress misused power to win the byelections.” Thakur added that raids were conducted on shopkeepers and traders who had BJP flags installed atop their houses and shops. “Employees have been warned against voting in favour of the BJP or else they will face action like transfer to remote and harsh areas,” he alleged. Anyone perceived close to the BJP was intimidated, he added.

Thakur said that rampant corruption prevailed in the state. He alleged that irregularities had been committed in the award of tenders in the electricity board and the purchase of poor quality water bottles for schoolchildren at exorbitant rates.

He said that the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department had raided some places in Himachal but these had nothing to do with the byelections. “Though investigation into these raids is underway, a lot will come out of these as influential people, who are very close to the government, were raided,” he added.

Thakur termed his meeting with Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla today as a courtesy call.