Apprehending low turnout, BJP making lame excuses: CM

Shimla, Apr 5 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today dismissed the BJP's charge that regional Transport Officials (RTOs) were being pressurised to deny buses to the party to ferry people for its rally at Hamirpur tomorrow.

Replying to a point of order raised by former chief minister P K Dhumal, he said the government had not pressurised the officials to deny buses to the BJP and the party was making this lame excuse apprehending low turnout in its rally.

The BJP was making a wrong allegation against one of the oldest parties in the country Mr Singh said adding that the party had no need to do so.

The Congress would be holding a parallel rally at Una tomorrow and had planned several other rallies in various parts of the state in future, he said.

The BJP, rattled by the Congress' Rally of March six, was trying to create confusion.

Earlier, raising the point of order Mr Dhumal said in democracy everyone had a right to say and to deny buses to the party was against its democratic rights.

He urged the government to issue clear directions to the RTOs and direct them to allow all private buses, booked for yesterday's BJP rally, at Hamirpur tomorrow to ferry people too and fro.

UNI