Battling several cases of CBI, Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate in the courts, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday said the politics in the State, rather in country, had stooped to the lowest ebb at present.
“Ideologies can be different, but the present BJP Government has adopted the modus-operandi of mud-slinging and character assassination of political opponents,” he said, addressing public meeting at Basdehra, after dedicating development projects of Rs.30.23 crore on second day of his visit of district Una.
He said BJP believed in unruly politics, be it Arun Jaitley, or other BJP State leaders like Anurag Thakur or Prem Kumar Dhumal.
Singh alleged these BJP leaders had hatched a conspiracy against him and have framed false cases against him. The Chief Minister said his case of Income Tax was being investigated by three central agencies, which was unlikely a rare example to be seen. “No matter how hard they try to suppress me, I will come out unblemished,” he said.
Virbhadra Singh said in present scenario, politicians were being criticised, but all the representatives should work for welfare of the people and not indulge in character assassination. “Those in opposition should be considered as opponents and not as enemies”, he said, adding that “now the opposition takes ruling party candidates as their enemy”.
He alleged MP from Hamirpur (Anurag Thakur) who was HPCA president, razed buildings to ground to pave the way for construction of a five-star hotel in Dharamshala. Number of trees were axed by showing the land as barren in revenue papers, alleged the Chief Minister. They should peep in themselves before pointing fingers at him, he said.
Singh advised that in a democratic set up, one should not use cheap language or pass derogatory remarks as was being done by the BJP State president, Satpal Satti.
The septuagenarian six time Chief Minister of the hill State had advice for the Congress party too and favoured elected representatives to the highest decision making bodies and not nominated ones. “I never attempted to try to snatch the rights of others in my political career. There was a time when one used to get elected to highest post in the organisation or political bodies. Now, there were many who are nominated in Congress Committee or political bodies as members. The appointment to higher posts should be through elections only and as per the constitution of the Congress party,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Minister announced Mehatpur-Basdehra as Sub-Tehsil and a degree college to be opened at Basdehra.
He performed Bhoomi Poojan of Mansoh-Kudu road to cost Rs 5.64 crore, inaugurated the Model Career centre of labour and Employment department at Una completed with an outlay of Rs 58.78 lakh.
He also laid foundation stone of separate water supply scheme for lal Singhi and residents of Una-Takka road at lal Singhi, to cost Rs 1.30 crore to benefit population of around 7500 of lal Singhi village, lower Kotla Kalan and part of lower Arniala. He also laid foundation stone for improvement of water supply scheme for Una town from old Hoshiarpur road to cost Rs. 1.06 crore to benefit population of around 8000 of ward number 1 and 2 of Una, foundation stone of Home Guard Office of 12th Battalion at Una to cost Rs 2.57 crore.
Addressing the gathering, Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that Virbhadra Singh was tallest leader of the State having high political stature. He said the BJP was unnecessarily raising hue and cry to oust the government, agitating every day, which shows their narrow mindedness. He said that opposition leaders of Una never talk of development even in Vidhan Sabha rather criticize the development being undertaken in the district.
Agnihotri said that after the assembly elections, BJP would get the biggest blow and their dreams regarding forming the BJP Government would shatter.
The Industries Minister said that none of the promises of BJP were fulfilled and added that they use to boast of construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya which has not come up till date, the Ganga Clean Mission has taken the back-seat, the promises of Bullet train in the country, the promise of bringing black money back from Swiss bank, the promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in bank account of each countrymen have fallen flat. All their promises were merely an eye wash, he said.
Agnihotri exhorted the people to strengthen hands of the Congress to make Virbhadra Singh Chief Minister of the state for seventh time. Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Chairman, State Finance Commission Kuldeep Kumar, DCC President Virendra Dharmani, former MlA Ganesh Dutt Bharwal and others were present on the occasion.