BJP's charge sheet mere allegations: Kaul Singh Thakur

Shimla, Mar 7 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Minister Kaul Singh Thakur today criticised the state unit of the BJP for leveling charges of corruptions against the state government, saying these were mere allegations without any supporting documents.

''Our charge sheet submitted to the Governor against the previous state government had all supporting documents to prove our claims, unlike the one presented by the BJP,'' he said at a press conference here.

Mr Thakur said the Congress charge sheet was prepared by a five-member committee headed by him and included Narain Chand Prashar, Ram Lall Thakur, Vijai Singh Mankotia and Singhi Ram.

The committee had submitted a detailed charge sheet with supporting documents after which the BJP government had threatened to file defamation cases against the committee, he said.

Unlike the BJP, which never filed the defamation suit, we would file defamation suit for leveling baseless allegations against us, he said.

The IPH minister said three months later the charges were repeated by four BJP ministers and three legislators, who described the then Dhumal government at the most corrupt government of the state, besides leveling other corruption charges against it.

''Our charge sheet contained 10 pages on the widespread corruption in the PWD department and were supported with relevant documents.'' Replying to a question as to why the state government never proceeded against ministers and legislators whom it had accused of corruption then, he said inquiries were on several of those cases.

But Mr. Thakur ruled out witch-hunt and personal vendetta against the concerned legislators, saying ''we are only concerned for the all round development of the state''.

UNI AS DP PR RN1714