BJP demand CM's resignation on godfather issue

Shimla, Nov 29 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh unit of the BJP today demanded Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's resignation on the ''godfather'' issue and said he was shielding corrupt state government officials.

The Chief Minister was leveling charges of corruption against BJP leaders to divert the people's attention from the 'godfather issue,' party state vice president Ram Swaroop Sharma, MLA and party whip Ravinder Singh Ravi, MLA Sukh Ram Chaudhary and former party spokesman Ganesh Dutt said in a joint release here.

They said after his role in shielding former ADGP BS Thind became public following the police officer's letter to his son, the chief minister should put in his papers.

The Chief Minister was continuously trying to save the police officer even after several criminal cases were registered against him in the neighbouring states, they added.

The BJP leaders said despite several cases against him, he was allowed to continue as state's ADGP incharge of 'CID and law and Order.' Taking exception to Mr Singh's statement on who was former HP Subordinate Services Selection Board (HPSSSB) Chairman and HP University Vice Chancellor and Pro Vice Chancellor's godfather, they said none of officials mentioned by the Chief Minister ever called any BJP leader their godfather and nor did any party leader did anything for them.

They said the Chief Minister, when he was in the opposition, threatened the then HPSSSB chairman and HP University Vice Chancellor to do his bidding or face the consequences.

Instead of leveling charges of corruption against the BJP leaders he should accept his mistakes and resign from the post, the BJP leaders said.

They said corruption had been institutionalised under Mr Singh and his statements on corruption were no longer taken seriously.

The Chief Minister should also restrain Mr Thind from leveling charges against the state's DGP, he said, adding this was hurting the morale of honest police officials.

The leaders called upon the chief minister to seek a fresh mandate from the people following Thind and several corruption cases against the government.

UNI AS DP PA RN1826