Dhumal refutes Virbhadra's charge on phone-tapping

Shimla, Jul 2 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today refuted former chief minister Virbhadra Singh's statement that his phones were being tapped by the government agencies.

''Keeping in view Mr Singh's condition in his party as of late and some internal reasons, I don't want to comment on this. He is passing through a difficult phase. He has probably said it for the sake of it,'' the Chief Minister said.

''I sympathise with him and have full respects for him for he is one of the seniormost political leaders in the state.'' Referring to the performance of the BJP government in the first six months, Mr Dhumal said the single biggest achievement of this government was the credibility of the government.

He said the previous Congress government suffered crisis of credibility in its tenure.

''The present BJP government is probably one, which has met a number of its election promises in the first six months. That is why people are now coming forward more enthusiastically and reposing faith in us,'' he said.

The Chief Minister said he had ordered a vigilance inquiry into the cases of illicit tree felling in Balson area of Theog as there were number of complaints and reports into it during the previous Congress Government's tenure.

UNI AS PS PK CS2040