Ruling and Opposition members clash in Assembly on corruption issue

Dharamsala, Dec 27 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Assembly today witnessed heated exchanges between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP members during a debate on the corruption issue with State Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh reiterating his resolve on corruption.

While the BJP members tried to pin down the government on the issue, the ruling party members adopted an aggressive stand with Mr Singh reiterating his government's resolve that it was a transparent one.

As soon as the assembly started today, Speaker Gangu Ram Musafir informed the House that that he had considered the adjournment motion submitted by the BJP members yesterday under rule 67 and admitted a discussion under Rule 63.

The BJP members specifically targeted some ministers for attack leading to instant reaction from the ruling benches and the proceedings were marked by frequent interruptions.

The Combined Pre-Medical Test (CPMT) paper leak issue was repeatedly raised in the House and the Chief Minister categorically stated that law would take it in its own course and the guilty would not be spared.

Replying to the debate, Mr Singh said that he had not even spared the brother of his own Cabinet Minister, adding that competent police officers had been appointed to investigate the case.

The investigations had so far not blamed the Himachal Pradesh University Vice Chancellor or any other of its official, he said, adding that paper was leaked from the press.

The only fault of the University was that it not prepared an alternate set of question paper to meet any exigency, he said.

''My government has never compromised with corruption and will not comprise in future also'' he declared, adding that it was his government which brought the ''Specific Corrupt Practices Act'' and appointed Lokayukta, which brought the chief minister under its perview.

Referring to purchase of sub standard glucose, he said that the suspended particles were found in the its samples, which had been sent to the Kandaghat laboratory.

Mr Singh said his state government had already directed the district hospitals not to use the glucose of that batch beside striking off the company's name from the list of the suppliers.

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