Sukh Ram8217;s conditional climb-down

SHIMLA, Dec 2: In a major climb-down on his demand for the CBI probe, Himachal Vikas Congress president Sukh Ram today set out a conditio...

SHIMLA, Dec 2: In a major climb-down on his demand for the CBI probe, Himachal Vikas Congress president Sukh Ram today set out a condition for former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to tender a public apology for 8220;hatching a conspiracy8221; for the CBI raids at his residences, in sugar scam and media trial against him.

Sukh Ram told a press conference here that he was prepared to drop demand for the CBI probe against his arch political rival Virbhadra Singh if the latter went in for public apology admitting that it was he Singh who had fabricated the evidence for registration of false cases against him. Besides raids at his residence in Mandi and Delhi, which led to recovery of huge cash, Sukh Ram also quoted infamous sugar scam of the late Rajiv Gandhi regime and publication of defamatory stories against him in a section of media. He alleged it was all handiwork of Virbhadra Singh and some other friends in the Congress.

The HVC president complained that there was a lot of pressure on him from some close confidants of Virbhadra Singh to drop his demand for the CBI probe on the basis of the charge-sheet, which the HVC had submitted to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. 8220;Though CBI had already started a preliminary inquiry on the charge-sheet and two, three cases were also being registered by the state agencies but I am prepared to drop the demand on Virbhadra Singh agreeing to tender an apology,8221; he offered.

When contacted Virbhadra Singh, who is also leader of CLP, rejected the demand and said Sukh Ram was free to persue his demand upto eternity. 8220;Instead Sukh Ram should apologise to me and people of Himachal Pradesh for his campaign of character assassination and vilification against me and my family.8221; former Chief Minister suggested.

Virbhadra Singh said when the HVC president had failed to succeed in his crude attempt to defame him publically, he now had resorted to new tactics. There was no question of any apology and he maintained that even Sukh Ram knew that charges which were being levelled against him Singh were totally baseless, motivated.

Sukh Ram joining the issue with Virbhadra Singh, however,says that there was no legal hitch for reopening inquiries against Virbhadra Singh on his property. In fact, the cases could be registered right now since there was lot of evidence to support the charges. The HVC president said his party would demand discussion in state assembly on report of the Lokayukta, which had not been placed in the Assembly since 1989. Sukh Ram also argued that institution of the Lokayukta was not meant to investigate the cases and it was an exclusive job of the police and other agencies like the CBI.

He reiterated his stand that the HVC would continue to support the BJP government and reminded the BJP under which circumstances he willingly agreed to split the HVC and get two MLAs admitted to the BJP.

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Sukh Ram contested the charge of Virbhadra Singh that the government had fabricated the records to register cases against him or alternatively Dhumal was under pressure from Sukh Ram to book former CM.