BJP to approach EC on hydel MoUs

Shimla, Nov 27 (UNI) Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said his party will approach the Election Commission (EC) on the issue of MoUs to be signed for new hydel projects in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, he blamed the Congress party of spreading a misinformation campaign that the state was incurring a daily loss of crores of rupees due to non-signing of the MoUs.

Mr Dhumal said corruption could be smelt in the urgency being shown by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on the issue.

Warning the promoters of the new hydel units, he said the new government would review all the MoUs that would be signed during the imposition of the moral code of conduct.

He said the BJP would start an institution to train people of all levels to work in hydel power projects, adding that the proposed institute would enable Himachali youth to take up jobs even outside the state.

The former chief minister said all recruitments made by the Congress government that had an air of suspicion around them would be thoroughly probed.

He also said that the performance of the technical institutions like Private ITIs and those under the State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT) would also be reviewed.

Responding to media queries regarding reports of resentment within the ranks and file of the party from various parts of the state on the issue of ticket allocation, Mr Dhumal appealed to the BJP cadre to work unitedly for ensuring a BJP victory.

''The worker's show of anger is justified for a few days, but beyond that, it will not be tolerated,'' he said.

He clarified that those who have been allotted the tickets should not expect posts of Chairmen or Vice-Chairmen in the government.

''These posts will be given to the deserving workers who wholeheartedly heartedly support their respective candidates,'' he added. Replying to another query, he said the party manifesto for the elections was almost ready and would soon be unveiled.

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