BJP's Dhumal Government sold jobs: CM

Shimla, Nov 11 (UNI) Launching a scathing attack on the BJP on the issue of corruption, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today accused the previous BJP government of selling government jobs overlooking the claims of genuine candidates.

Addressing public meetings at Pooh and Rekong Peo in Kinnuar district, he said the previous government was so neck deep in corruption that seven of its own ministers and legislators levelled charges of corruption against its own government.

Mr Singh said the pace of development was accelerated whenever the Congress Government was in power in the state as against the BJP, which has always ignored the tribal areas.

On March six, 2003 when the Congress took over the reins of the government from the BJP Government after the last assembly elections, the coffers were empty with not adequate funds to pay the salaries of the employees, he claimed.

He said due to the strict fiscal management and pro-development policies pursued during the four and a half years, the state government has succeeded in having huge sum of money at its disposal following which the World Bank has agreed to provide a loan of Rs 900 crore.

Referring to the expansion of education and roads in the state, he said Himachal had 331 educational institutions in 1947 that had grown to over 17,500, while the road length had grown to over 30,000 km from 288 km.

The Chief Minister said the successive Congress Governments had always protected the interests of the tribal people and had formulated separate tribal sub plan for the development of the tribal areas.

Successive Congress Governments had accelerated the pace of development without any discrimination with any region and it was due to their efforts Himachal has emerged as a role model of development for the other countries, he said.

Appealing to the tribal people to vote for the Congress candidate, Mr Singh said the winning legislator would be given representation in the government.

UNI