Cong denial proves charges against Dhumal baseless: BJP

Shimla, Nov, 5 (UNI) Reacting strongly to the affidavit by Congress leaders denying having made corruption charges against then Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, the BJP today demanded a ''public apology'' from them claiming it had proved that the Congress had won 2003 polls by propagating ''false and baseless charges of corruption against the then BJP state government''.

Addressing mediapersons here today, BJP spokesperson Randhir Sharma said the affidavit has been filed by Congress leaders Moti Lal Vohra and former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in a defamation case filed by Mr Dhumal against them.

The affidavit stated that the allegations against Mr Dhumal of owning over Rs 25 crore worth property in Jalandhar, Punjab by corrupt means, ''were not essence of their speech and was the result of divergent, inconsistent and imprecise reports presented by the media''.

''This has confirmed that the corruption charges against the senior leader of BJP and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, were false and baseless'', Mr Sharma said.

''The Congress has accepted that they had misguided the public of the state and had gained the mandate on fraud campaigning'', he said, demanding that Central and State leaders of the party should express ''public apology'' for misguiding the people and maligning the ''honest image'' of Mr Dhumal.

Mr Sharma also charged that the tenure of the present Congress led state government was full of corruption and anti-people policies. ''Many court verdicts against various policies of this government have already proved that BJP's charges are not hypothetical''.

He also demanded that assembly election in the state should be conducted under the Presidential rule alleging, the state government was continuously violating the model code of conduct.

''The officials who have been given service extensions are working as the agents of the Congress party, Mr Sharma alleged.

''The BJP demands that the State Election Commission should immediately direct these officials to perform their duty impartially'', he added.

The BJP would also urge the Election Commission not to permit the state government to sign the Hydropower Project MOU, he added.

UNI