Drivers of BJP leaders purchased land worth lakhs: HP CM

Dharamsala, Mar 5:

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday accused the Opposition

of "

and nepotism" for indulging in benami land deals when they were in power in the state.

"Corruption, and nepotism had become order of the day and problems and grievances of the people were ignored by the previous BJP government. Benami land deals were made to facilitate the persons in the power and their relatives," Singh alleged.

The chief minister alleged that lands were purchased in the name of two drivers of a leader in Kasouli amounting to about Rs 50 lakh. He said that his government would look into all such matters but would never indulge in revengeful activities, adding that culprits would be brought to book. Singh said that state police was directed to indulge in phone tapping, which was a criminal offence, adding that CID and vigilance authorities tapped about 750 telephones of opposition and the opponents in the ruling party.

The CM said that telephone tapping could only be allowed in certain cases with the permission from the Home Ministry, adding that his stay in Himachal Bhawan Chandigarh was also put under observation as bugging machine was installed in the room where he put up. Singh was addressing a rally in Jwali in Kangra District today where he announced to open a Government Degree College for Nagrota Surian and sub-tehsil for Kotla area of Jwali assembly constituency.

PTI