BJP as corrupt and opportunist party, says CM

Una, May 13 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today termed the BJP a corrupt and an opportunist political party, which used religion for furthering its political interests.

Addressing a public gathering at Basal village in Una district here, he said the BJP was using religion for politics, while Congress took religion ways and means for propagating spiritualism.

Mr Singh said VHP leader Swami Vedanti was recently caught in a sting operation by a private news channel, accepting a share in corporate donations for the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya.

''The BJP remembers Lord Rama only during the election to woo Hindus sentiments.'' Referring to former chief minister P K Dhumal's five-year tenure, he said it was a black scar in the history of the state when jobs were sold at the state Subordinate Services Selection Board.

The Chief Minister said the number of schools has increased from 315 to 16,500 and colleges from one to 70 during the same period.

Besides, the government had recently announced the taking over of some private degree colleges, he said.

He said the University Grants Commission (UGCs) guidelines on service conditions of lectures and other staff would not be ignored.

The Congress government was committed for the development and spread of education, while 1,432 schools were opened during the first four years, 2,800 new schools were already opened during the current financial year, he said.

Earlier, Mr Singh paid obeisance at the Dera Baba Ruda Nand shrine near Basal village.

UNI