Dhumal demands white paper on expenditure on Sonia's rally

Hamirpur, Nov 1 (UNI) Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister P K Dhumal today demanded a white paper on the money spent by the state government on organising AICC President Sonia Gandhi's rally at Dharamshala on October 30, saying the party should bear the expenses instead of the government.

Addressing a press conference here, he said since the rally was organised by the Congress Party, it should foot the entire expenditure incurred on organising the rally.

Terming the rally a failure, Mr Dhumal said that instead of ameliorating the sufferings of the people it had increased them by spending a huge amount on it.

He said the BJP's charge that Kangra and other areas of the state were being discriminated against by the Congress Government had been reiterated by Ms Gandhi during her rally at Dharamshala.

The state government was discriminating on regional lines, the BJP leader said.

Mr Dhumal also demanded action against the Congress party for violating the rules and guidelines on the use of polythene, saying Congress had used banners and buntings made of polythene in abundance during the rally.

Demanding that no extension should be given to government officers who had reached the age of superannuation, he said the government was resorting to such tactics to ''adjust'' its near and dear ones at the cost of meritorious people.

The extension given to three senior state government officials should be withdrawn immediately, he added.

UNI XC AS PS PR VV1952