HPCC criticizes BJP for corrupt practices

Shimla, May 2 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) today condemned yesterday's clashes between the BJP and Congress activists and said that such incidents were unfortunate for the peaceful state.

Addressing mediapersons here, party spokesman Kuldeep Singh Rathore said the burning of effigies of living persons was ethically wrong and should be stopped immediately.

He said the Congress Party, on its own, would restrict burning of effigies by all its frontal organizations in future.

Accusing the BJP of being neck deep in corruption, he said the Hamirpur bye polls was the result of the suspension of the BJP MP from Lok Sabha following his involvement in the ''cash for query'' scam.

Clarifying the party's stand of not giving party ticket to outgoing Mayor Sohan Lal, Mr Rathore said it was the decision of the Scrutiny Committee besides the ward had been reserved for women.

The Congress spokesman said Mr Sohan Lal would actively campaign for the party candidates in the ensuing Shimla Municipal Corporation Elections.

By declaring all the complete list of its candidates for the elections, the Congress was already taken a lead with the BJP still being indecisive in a few of the wards, he added.

UNI