Vijay Singh Mankotia no longer belongs to CLP: Dhawan

Shimla, July 9 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge and Congress Working Committee Member R K Dhawan today said that Congress MLA and ex-minister Vijay Singh Mankotia no longer belonged to Congress Legislature Party (CLP) as he was under suspension for anti-party activity.

Mr Dhawan was refuting the claim made by Mr Mankotia that he was still the part of CLP as he had not been dismissed so far.

Mr Mankotia would not be able to take part in the CLP meeting, Mr Dhawan said while addressing a press conference here.

Mr Dhawan also denied that Congress lost the Hamipur parliamentary polls due to the controversial audio CD released by Mr Vijay Singh Mankotia. He said he was holding discussions with the state leaders to analyse the reasons of the defeat.

Mr Monkotia was recently put under suspension from Congress for his involvement in releasing an audio CD containing conversation allegedly involving Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for negoatiating an illegal money deal.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, who was also present in the press conference, denied Mr Mankotia's charges and challenged him to release the other video CDs against him which he claimed to be having in his possession.

''I dare Mankotia to bring out in public whatever he had ,'' Mr Singh said adding that Mr Monkotia was implicating him due to political grudge.

UNI