Reacting to the allegation of political vendetta by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for lodging cases against Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and its chief Anurag Thakur, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that cricket is a game of gentlemen and not of crooks.
“The fresh cases were registered against former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s sons (Anurag Thakur and Arun Dhumal) after vigilance found evidence of wrongdoing against them and the State Government has nothing to do with it,” the Chief Minister told mediapersons here. “Cricket has always been a game of gentlemen and not of crooks,” said Singh, adding that the State Government is not willing to take over HPCA but is trying to clean out the rot and dirt in the institution, which has been headed by Anurag Thakur.
“The conversion of HPCA from society to company without any prior notice to the authorities concerned indicates malafide intention of the persons leading it and everyone knows how a company works,” said the Chief Minister. He added that persons controlling major shares control a company and in this case everyone knows who runs HPCA.
Anurag Thakur and his younger brother Arun Dhumal were booked by vigilance on Thursday for forging document to purchase a piece of land, which was not allowed as the land was allotted by the State Government to a landless person. A case was also registered against HPCA for encroaching over 700 sqft of land of sports department near International Cricket Stadium at Dharamshala.
“Cases against Anurag Thakur are based on investigation by vigilance department and it is unlike the frivolous cases lodged against me by his father Prem Kumar Dhumal,” said Singh. “Everyone knows and my political track record suggests that I have never done any politics of vendetta in my 60 years of public life but at the same time my responsibility and accountability is also towards people of the state and those, who have done wrong will be punished,” said the Chief Minister.