Corruption demoralising employees in HP: Mankotia

Shimla, Mar 8 (UNI) Former Himachal Pradesh Tourism Minister Vijai Singh Mankotia of the ruling Congress today expressed concern that people holding key posts in the state were facing corruption charges, saying that it had a demoralising effect on honest employees.

Participating in the discussion on general budget for 2006-07, he made a specific reference to a top police officer who was facing criminal charges for his alleged actions and the chairman of the board of school education against whom he had moved a motion for breach of privilege.

Mr Mankotia said a student leader, having clout in the corridors of power, was allegedly running a transfer industry, while a trade union leader, who mostly remained in jail in the neighbouring state, was operating as a labour leader in the state, adding even the officers in the Chief Minister's office were under the shadow of suspicion.

The former tourism minister appreciated the 2006-07 Budget, presented in the state Assembly on March three by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, but expressed concern over the rising debt liability and unemployment.

The financial position of the state government was precarious with debt liability crossing over Rs 1600 crore, he said.

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