BJP, Cong bicker over sports body election

The Congress and the BJP in the state are yet again entangled in a controversy, this time over election of a sports body. BJP MLA Virender Kanwar today submitted a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Shimla, R.M. Sharma, on the basis of which an FIR was registered against two supporters of former minister Ram Lal Thakur for allegedly attacking Kanwar and his security guard while he was on his way to participate in the election of HP Volleyball Association. The election was held at Rampur on Monday and the complaint was submitted to the SP today.

“I have seen the complaint and have directed the Rampur Police Station to register an FIR against the persons involved,” said the SP. He confirmed that Kanwar’s medical examination at IGMC shows injuries. The complaint alleges that former secretary of the association H.K. Pathik and Suresh Thakur attacked Kanwar and three more persons entered into a scuffle with BJP MLAs Satpal Satti, B.K. Chauhan and Tejwant Negi and former BJP minister Praveen Sharma, who were heading to the election venue.

Addressing mediapersons in Shimla today, Kanwar said he was unanimously elected as new president, but later Thakur went out of the election venue and declared himself as the president. Thakur has held the post for the past 20 years. The central observer and state observer were also present during the election. However, Kanwar announced his future plans as president and said that a volleyball championship would be organised before November 20.