Inordinate delay in laying the foundation stone of the much touted first “hydro-engineering college” of the country at Bandla Hill in Bilaspur for which the state had allotted land long ago and for which it has also signed an agreement with one of the two partner central corporations involved in exploiting river water for hydel power production, is now developing into a full-fledged election issue.
BJP national general secretary JP Nadda in the various public meetings at the Bilaspur Sadar constituency alleged that Congress leader Virbhadra Singh was obstructing this project as he has been using his influence at the Centre to ensure that it was not done now as this would give credit to the BJP government.
Nadda claimed that earlier in this month along with all other BJP MPs of the state, he had met Central Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in Delhi and urged him to come to Himachal for this ceremony as his repeated schedule for this purpose had been postponed at the eleventh hour several times during the past three years when Chief Minister had declared this project.
Nadda said Shinde regretted his not coming to HP it. Shinde, according to Nadda, said he also had to take care of opinions of prominent party leaders from the state. He alleged that Virbhadra had asked him not to attend the ceremony.
However, Virbhadra Singh has denied such allegation and alleged that BJP leaders are trying to malign his image.
