Congress demands Himachal govt clear staff dues

By: Baldev S Chauhan

Shimla : The Opposition Congress Friday said the ruling BJP was doing great injustice by not releasing the dues of Himachal government employees .

“All were expecting the Dhumal led government to announce the long pending dues on republic day , but nothing was announced ,” said Kaul Singh , Himachal Congress president here .

“Rs 1200 crore is due to paid to the staff in the form of medical bills and other expenses . We demand these dues be cleared immediately ,” Singh said .

Kaul Singh met the media for the first time after his car accident six weeks ago which left him badly injured .

The Congress has also demanded the release of a white paper on the grim financial health of the state with the debt burden now touching a whopping Rs 27,000 crore .

He said the ruling BJP was being very unfair by not providing grants-in-aid to the Congress controlled Shimla municipal corporation which was starved for funds .

“The government must extend the period for raising objections by the public for preparing the detailed 236 page document on the Shimla development plan for the next ten years .”

Talking about the recent civil supplies scandal he said , “The Congress demands a CBI probe into this scandal which the government is trying to hush up .”

“The government is also trying to play down the HIMUDA scandal in Solan district which involves purchase of land at much higher prices ,” he said .

The Congress has demanded the 99 year land lease with Baba Ramdev’s Yogpeeth trust in Solan district’s Sadhupul be cancelled immediately and the government take over the entire 96 bighas of land .

“This piece of land was gifted by the Maharaja of Patiala to Indira Gandhi who handed it over to the Himachal government and a children’s park was proposed here .”

“The Dhumal led BJP has handed over this government land to Acharaya Balkrishan who is a foreigner(Nepali citizen), and this is not acceptable to us ,” he said .

“Even though the state government has signed an MOU with the Yogpeeth trust for procuring HPMC fruit juice and herbs from the state very little has actually been procured so far ,” he alleged .

Kaul Singh also criticised the government for not clearing snow and restoring electricity for long periods in many snow bound areas of the state this month causing great difficulties to people .