Rampant corruption, plundering of resources by HP govt: Dhumal

Shimla: BJP leader P K Dhumal today lashed out at Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for “rampant corruption” and alleged that his government was “plundering” the resources of the state.

“The present Congress government would be remembered only for mafia raj, administrative corruption, nepotism and plundering of state resources,” he said in a statement here.

The former chief minister claimed that development has come to a standstill, the public was disappointed and administrative paralysis has gripped the state.

“Aware of the fact that it is their last term, Congress leaders are robbing the state with both hands and the latest example is the purchase of cement by the government,” Dhumal said.

“In spite of the offer by the Union government of Rs 140 per bag, the Himachal Pradesh government was purchasing cement at the cost of Rs 263 per bag, which means that the state is paying Rs 123 extra per bag,” he alleged.

He claimed that the despite Union minister Nitin Gadkari urging the state government not to buy expensive cement, the state government was buying it at higher cost causing loss to the state.

Accusing the state government of corruption and nepotism in recruitments, Dhumal said the system of “recruitments on chits” has again started to “accommodate relatives of Congressmen”.

Former state Horticulture minister Narender Bragta said with the commencement of the apple season the growers were facing problems and meagre increase of Rs 25 paisa per kg in procurement price of apple under the market intervention scheme was disappointing.

Moreover, farmers were still awaiting the payment of their produce under MIS even after three years, he added.

“Why the apple collection centres in the apple belt have not been opened,” he wondered.

Stating that the condition of the roads was “pathetic”, Bragata added that the apple season was in full-swing while link roads were closed but the government was in “deep slumber”.