CM denies mentioning Katwal's name in his speech

Una, Apr 20 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today denied that he had mentioned former HP State Subordinate Services Selection Board (HPSSSSB) Chairman SM Katwal's name in his public meeting.

Appearing as a defendant in a local court here following a defamation suit filed by Mr Katwal, he read out a few press reports and admitted that some of the contents of the newspaper reports were correct, while others were not.

Mr Singh had in his public meeting at Rohana village in Kangra district on December three, 2003, alleged that government jobs were being sold to outsiders through the Board during the previous BJP government's tenure.

During the 105-minute cross questioning by Mr Katwal's counsel, the chief minister said he had no enmity or personal grudge against Mr Katwal and that he had not mentioned his name in the speech.

He, however, maintained that during the BJP government's tenure there was misappropriation in the SSSB.

Admitting that as a leader of opposition, he had made a telephonic call to the then SSSB Chairman, regarding appointments of Ashok Raj and Darshan Das, Mr Singh said despite good academic records and repeatedly qualifying the written tests conducted by the SSSB, the candidates were not qualifying the interviews.

UNI AS DP PA KN2007