Virbhadras comments reflect feudal mind: Dhumal

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal accused former CM and Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh of dragging his family members into land purchase rows.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal accused former CM and Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh of dragging his family members into land purchase rows. Dhumal alleged that Virbhadra was,in fact,at fault to the extent of grabbing government land during the tenure of Congress government.

Dhumal said despite having admitted in 1994-95 that he (former CM) had wrongly taken over 78 bighas of land and later offered to surrender the entire surplus land to the government,the Union minister had not shown enough grace to hand over this land to the government. Now,I have issued directions to officials to initiate the process to lawfully take possession of the surplus government land. We have also ordered an inquiry into the episode as how Virbhadra,in blatant misuse of his position as chief minister,got revenue records entries changed. The officials who helped him in the crime were rewarded with positions in the State Administrative Tribunal. Criminal proceedings will begin if the investigating agency recommends action after completing the inquiry, he announced at a press conference here on Thursday.

Dhumal reacted sharply against Virbhadras remarks claiming that he (Dhumal) did not deserve to become CM as he lacked the qualities required for the job. This is a clear reflection of feudal mentality and such remarks are bound to hurt every son of the soil and an ordinary person coming from a farming background. I am deeply hurt and wonder if only members of royal families have a birth right to become CM.

He took strong exception to Virbhadras charges against him about his family members and BJP leaders being on a land buying spree. If any of my family members have bought land,it obviously will be through a lawful process and after paying the cost. They (family members) are also citizens of Himachal and are free to buy land in the open market.

Dhumal said another land scam,Himalayan Fertilizer in Baddi-Brotiwala area,involving the previous Congress government,had come to light. Despite written advice from the industries department about a loss of Rs 4.2 crore in allowing re-sale of a sick unit,the government went ahead and allowed a private company to re-sell the premises,which it had bought with an undertaking to restart the production.

The government is inquiring into the scam and soon an FIR will be registered, he said.

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Virbhadras comments reflect feudal mind: Dhumal

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal accused former CM and Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh of dragging his family members into land purchase rows.

Virbhadras comments reflect feudal mind: Dhumal

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal accused former CM and Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh of dragging his family members into land purchase rows.