Cong beats BJP on its own turf

“Gadkari targeted the UPA government for terrorism,Naxalites and Maoists. He,in fact,suggested the state BJP government to work more on development issues related to the masses,” said Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Kaul Singh Thakur,addressing mediapersons in Shimla today.

Congress legislative party leader Vidya Stokes said,“The UPA government has given huge benefits to the state and Union Minister Anand Sharma clarified that the sunset-clause about the exemption of the Central excise duty ending in year 2010 already existed and the BJP government is spreading a false campaign against the UPA government. Sharma also showered gifts on Himachal worth several crores and now we are also trying to get an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) for the state.”

Thakur alleged the BJP rallied against the UPA government by misusing the funds allotted by it under MNREGA. “In panchayats,where the pradhans were from the BJP,villagers employed under MNREGA and anganwadi workers were forced to attend the rally. Regional transport officers forced the private bus operators to ferry people for the rally.”

He said as BJP had no real issue,the motive of rally was to cover up for its falling popularity graph,alleged corruption and illegal land deals.

Countering,Anurag Thakur’s allegations that he was involved in corruption in Mandi district cricket association,Kaul Singh Thakur said,“No activity was performed in the brief period when I was the president. I challenge Anurag to get a CBI inquiry done into this and also the HP Cricket Association’s (HPCA) deals during the IPL matches and by its members,who have allegedly purchased huge tracts of land even as their known sources of income are not as huge. The income tax should also inquire into the incomes of such people.” Anurag’s statement was meant to divert attention from HPCA’s alleged bungling during the IPL.

Time to bury the hatchet?
In the backdrop of all din over the demand for extension of the industrial package to Himachal Pradesh,Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma met on Sunday evening with the former reinstating demand for restoration of the incentives.

“The chief minister demanded restoration of the package to its original date of 2013 as its main component of the central excise duty was withdrawn three years before the proposed period,” said an official release.

He explained to Sharma that industrial activities had increased after the announcement of the package and a large number of industrial units were already under construction in the state. The withdrawal of the excise exemptions will severely jeopardise the state’s interests. He said the matter had also been raised with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who has assured a sympathetic consideration over the demand of the state.

Dhumal urged the Union minister to get the Central excise duties exempted from the industrial units being set up in Himachal. He also thanked Sharma for sanctioning new projects including Rs 27 crore spice park at Naudan.

Sharma recalled that his ministry had already recommended restoration of the Central excise concessions to the Union government and will pursue the matter. Lok Sabha member Anurag Thakur was also present at the meeting.