HP NGO federation president suspended

Shimla, Jan 16 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government today suspended state's non gazatted officers (NGOs) federation president Laxmi Chand Machhan for campaigning in favour of the Congress candidate in the Hamirpur Parliamentary by-election held last year.

The Sword of Damocles was hanging on Mr Machhan, considered very close to the previous state Congress Government, for a few months now after he campaigned for the Congress candidate in the last year's Parliamentary by-election.

Despite state Election Commission's recommendations to the Horticulture Department Director to take action against him, no action had been initiated against him till now.

However, he ran out of luck after the state Congress lost the assembly elections to the BJP who has now suspended him for campaigning against its candidate and now state Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in the parliamentary by-election.

Several employee organisations, including the Himachal Pradesh State Multi-purpose Health Employees Federation and Bilaspur District NGO's Association, had urged the Commission to take action against the employee leader for his proximity to the previous government.

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