Contents of CD not reliable, says Bali

Dharamshala, June 1 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Tourism and Transport Minister G S Bali today questioned the contents of the CD, released by former tourism minister Vijai Singh Mankotia, saying it has been tempered with.

Talking to reporters here, he said since the CD was recordable, there was a probability of it being manipulated and tampered with in a way to malign the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his MP wife.

Mr Bali said the people of the state have every right to know from where he had managed the CD, which he alleged was 18 years old and tempered with.

Referring to the Lok Sabha by-polls from Hamirpur constituency of the state, he said the allegations were serious in view of the elections.

Terming the release of the CD an ''unfortunate incident'', he said the suspended Congress leader had vitiated the political atmosphere by doing this.

Replying to a question, he said though Mr Mankotia was a personal close friend, he had not spoken or met him after he had released the CD.

The tourism and transport minister said truth would utimately prevail and people get to know the facts in due course.

He also ruled himself out from the state leadership race as of now, saying that he was neither in the race of leading the party or heading the government.

UNI