Cong accuses BJP of shielding tainted officials in HP

Chandigarh, Jan 31 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Congress todayaccused the ruling BJP in the state of shielding taintedgovernment officials in corruption cases.

"The BJP government has ruined Himachal Pradesh...

corruption is rampant and the state government has no controlover the bureaucracy...Corrupt officials, facing fraud cases,have been appointed to important positions," HPCC presidentKaul Singh Thakur told reporters here.

The corrupt officials are enjoying full patronage of thestate government, he said.

Thakur also accused the BJP government of commercialisingeducation.

"Himachal Pradesh Education Board has seen one of themajor scandals during the BJP regime," he said and alleged900 students, who had never been to schools, were distributedmerit certificates by the board.

However, no case was registered against senior HPEBofficials, he claimed.

Thakur said Congress will constitute a five-membercommittee to unearth various scams and will make public thenames and deeds of the tainted officials working hand ingloves with the BJP government.