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Journalism of Courage
SOLAN, Aug 5: Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has decried the “total failure of the law and order machinery” in the state. The recent killings in Chamba district by suspected J-K militants has unmasked the “hollow” claims of the BJP-HVC combine government in the state.
He criticised the government for its failure to check hike in prices of essential commodities like edible oils, salt, vegetables and pulses. It appeared that the government was “colluding” with black marketeers and hoarders, as the concerned authorities had been totally “indifferent” and had taken no action against defaulters, Virbhadra Singh charged.
He demanded an inquiry by a sitting judge of the high court into the March 5 incidents, wherein a conspiracy was hatched by some vested interests to create disharmony among the people of the state to gain political mileage.
The inquiry entrusted to the divisional commissioner by the government could not bring out the truth, as a government servant could not go against the wishes of the ruling party, Virbhdra Singh said. Such sensitive issues that threaten to break bonds between the people of the state should be taken seriously and the guilty, howsoever, powerful should be punished, he said.
He refuted the charges of the government that adequate budgetary provisions were made through supplementary demands in respect of schools and health institutions in the state during the Congress regime. He asked the BJP-HVC government to explain their position regarding opening of 150 new educational institutions with an allocation of a meager amount of Rs one lakh. The government should also explain its resolve regarding opening of new health institutions without any budgetary provisions, Virbhadra said.
He alleged that “forest and telecom mafia” was flourishing in the state as a kingpin of the forest mafia was holding the post of adviser to the HVC. He challenged the HVC leaders to file a case against him in court (instead of asking for a CBI inquiry), concerning any financial irregularities committed by him during his chief ministership.He claimed that the Congress government had raised loans for the purpose of development and no irregularity had been committed.
He supported Chief Minister demand for getting central financial assistance of Rs 1000 crore.
