BJP's week-long protest against Himachal govt from tomorrow

Shimla, Aug 11: Week-long protests by BJP against Himachal Pradesh government for its alleged vindictive action against opposition leaders, among other issues, is set to kick off tomorrow.

Demonstrations will be held at all district headquarters against the FIR filed against former BJP minister Rajiv Bindal in a 12-year-old case and the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, party sources said today. Protesters would also take up the alleged phone tapping case which party workers said had been raked up to malign BJP leaders.

The decision to observe the 'Anti Badla-Badli (Vindictive Transfers and Revenge) Week' was taken at the three-day camp of BJP workers which concluded at Palampur on August 4. State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti said a protest rally would also be held outside Vidhan Sabha on August 23 during the monsoon session of the state Assembly.

Senior party leaders, including former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, MLAs and BJP office-bearers would lead the rallies at different places, Satti added. Later, camps will be organised at the Mandal level from September 1 to 15 to train the party cadre for agitation while booth-level meetings will be held from September 25 to October 10 to make the people aware about the alleged anti-people activities of the Virbhdra Singh government.

Dhumal had earlier said that the gameplan of the Congress government to derive political mileage by tarnishing the image of BJP leaders would be defeated, he added. Taking a swipe at the Congress leadership, Dhumal had said that ever since the Himachal Housing Board (now HIMUDA) came into existence, flats were allotted to those who already owned houses in Shimla in utter disregard of the rules.

PTI