BJP's chargesheet, bundle of lies, says IPH minister

Shimla, Mar 7 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Minister Kaul Singh Thakur today termed the charges levelled against him by the state unit of the BJP a ''bundle of lies''.

''I will soon file defamation suit against people who have leveled charges of corruption against me,'' he said at a press conference here.

Mr Thakur said that he would soo send a legal notice to BJP state party chief Suresh Bhardwaj and former state Chief Minister P K Dhumal for making false allegations against him, followed by a defamation suit.

He said mere accusations were not enough proof of one's complicity in the crime unless supported by a documentary proof, which the BJP has failed to provide.

The state BJP unit had submitted a charge sheet against the Virbhadra Singh government to the Governor on Sunday, accusing it of widespread corruption in the state, while leveling specific charges of corruption against six ministers, including the IPH minister.

Mr Thakur said his son was not an IPH contractor, as charged by the BJP, and no work contract was awarded to him by the department during his tenure.

''My son is only a PWD contractor and that too from the days when the BJP was in power in the state. I am aware that my son cannot be awarded a contract when I am heading it and I am adhering to it,'' he said.

He dismissed the BJP's claim that he had properties at different places in the state, saying these were exaggerated claims and said he would be happy if the party handed over these properties to him.

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