CM disappointed Dhumal not contesting elections

Shimla, May 2 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today expressed his disappointment over former chief minister P K Dhumal not contesting Hamirpur Lok Sabha by-polls on June two.

''I was looking forward to an interesting contest between the two parties with Mr Dhumal being the BJP's candidate from Hamirpur,'' he told reporters at an informal press conference here.

Mr Singh said though he was interested in a straight political contest with the BJP leader, but since he was not contesting the elections, he was disappointed.

Referring to the Congress' candidate from Hamirpur, he said the party would decide its nominee after the opposition BJP named its candidate.

Taking exception to Mr Dhumal's remark at yesterday's press conference wherein he had alleged that low and order situation was going bad to worse, he remembered the BJP leader that during its tenure 16 people were killed and 26 injured in 13 incidents of police firing.

''There is no goodaraj in the state. People very conveniently forget their time,'' he said.

He said the BJP was possibly forgotten police firing on the peacefully agitating farmers at Kotgarh in the district in which three people were killed a few years ago.

Besides, the people of the state have not forgiven them for unleashing terror on the state government employees during the Shanta Kumar's tenure by requisitioning central forces and commandoes, he said.

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