Anurag’s ‘Y’ security not my decision: Dhumal

Ridiculing former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for raising objections about the police escort and a pilot provided to Anurag Thakur during his travels in the state,he said: “I never wanted to point out this,but can I ask why an escort was provided to Pratibha Singh (Virbhadra Singh’s wife) when Virbhadra Singh was the chief minister,even though she was not an MP at that time?”

Dhumal advised the Congress not to politicise the issue or relate it to a simple law and order matter. “One must understand its sensitivity and risk to the life of a person,who is an elected MP from the state. How many Congress leaders have the courage to contribute towards the nation’s cause by leading a yatra to Kashmir to unfurl the national flag — an example Thakur has set by risking his life?” he asked.

He added: “Had he not been my son,I (as chief minister) would have given extra security to any MP from the state facing a serious threat to his life.”

The chief minister also questioned Virbhadra Singh — currently on a state tour to hold public meetings — on his repeated allegations regarding corruption and illegal land deals. “I would like to ask him to explain the reasons why he was divested from the charge of the Ministry of Steel,where he has been replaced by Beni Prasad Verma?”

He added that during Virbhadra Singh’s tenure of the Union minister,he has not contributed anything to the state. Rather,a central industrial package sanctioned in 2003 by the Vajpayee government was withdrawn by the Centre prematurely and Singh did nothing,claimed Dhumal. “Look how Congress MPs and MLAs from Andhra Pradesh had resigned from their seats to press for Telangana state. Had Virbhadra Singh done this,he would have really become champion of the state’s cause,” said Dhumal.