BJP accuses Virbhadra of corruption

New Delhi, July 23: The BJP on Thursday accused Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of receiving a bribe from a private company in the name of unsecured loan.

Addressing a press conference here, union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Virbhadra Singh snipped off crores of rupees as unsecured loan.

"Venture Energy Technology Private Limited, whose project was revived by Virbhadra Singh... and after a while, the owner of the company gave Rs.1.5 crore as unsecured loan to the chief minister's wife and Rs.2.4 crore to the chief minister," he said.

Prasad said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi "who has been speaking so much these days", should comment on this as well.

"It was nothing but bribery in the name of unsecured loan as the chief minister helped the company," Prasad charged.

Challenging Rahul Gandhi, the BJP leader said "he who speaks a lot these days" should come clear on the charges he has made.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi does not speak much, but Rahul Gandhi speaks a lot these days," he said, referring to Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the BJP-led NDA government.

Prasad also charged Virbhadra Singh with evading income tax by indulging in corrupt practices.

"In his apple orchard business, he has shown (in records) that apples were being transported by two-wheelers and small cars," he said, and again asked Rahul Gandhi to speak on it.