New Power policy, appointment of HPU Vice-Chancellor, purchase of electric buses, Janmanch and appointments’ of tainted leaders in the Govt mentioned in Charge-Sheet
Shimla: Alleging corruption, the Himachal Pradesh Congress has submitted a 22 pages charge sheet to the Governor. Congress alleged that the year of BJP rule in the state can best be described as a year of failed promises, poor governance, deteriorating law and order situation and extravagance by the State Government despite poor financial health of the Government.
Claiming of pressure from various quarters, charge sheet alleged that the Chief Minister has failed to provide efficient administration and only pushing an agenda of saffronisation aiming at polarizing people for mere political gains.
Congress has racked up an issue of providing land for the Patanjali Trust and claimed of giving land at the Sadhupul in Solan district at throwaway prices, among its 35 allegations on the government.
Opposition blamed Jai Ram Thakur government for changing specification for purchase of electric buses to benefit particular company. Charge Sheet read
“There is a big question mark on the procedures being followed for the purchase of 50 battery operated electric buses for Shimla town with financial assistance from the Union Ministry for Heavy Industries. As per a complaint filed by a Mumbai based High Court lawyer Raghunath Mahabal, the present BJP Government has now separated the cost of the bus and the AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) and is only going in for the purchase of the buses. The specifications of the tender document have been changed to give benefit to a particular company. There are apprehensions that the horse power of the vehicles has been drastically reduced to 80 Horse Power as compared to 180 Horse Power of the ones bought by Congress Government. Though this has brought down the cost of the bus but will clearly affect the efficiency and performance of the buses. The complaint has also been submitted to the Governor who has reportedly sent it to the State Government. A petition in this regard has also been filed in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh. The previous buses were bought after thorough trials to check their efficiency and performance on steep slopes. Earlier The Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) was part of the main purchase contract since the electric bus technology is still in its infancy stages in India and without the AMC clause, and without this the huge investment for the purchase of the buses would become a waste.”
Congress also sees corruption in delay of school uniform to the students. Congress alleges of existence of Transfer Industry, withdrawal of cases of corruption against BJP leaders, backdoor entry through outsource system, change in HP Power policy that Congress believed to cost state exchequer Rs 10,400 crores, misuse of MLA funds for family business, illegal mining, plum posting of tainted and controversial officers in various departments namely Tourism, HRTC, HPSEB, Education, Health and Department of Industry, encroachment on Govt land and illegal construction also found mentioned in the charge sheet.
Wrestling event also found in the charge sheet and Congress claimed of corruption in hosting the event. Zero progress in highly publicized 69 National Highways, delay in construction of four laning of Parwanoo-Solan and Kiratput-Manali road, besides deteriorating financial health of the state prominently highlighted in the charge sheet.
Congress charge-sheet termed Janmanch program a BJP propaganda tools and a stage of humiliating government officers. Congress termed Janmanch a complete failure and wastage of time and money.
Opposition also questioned appointment of Vice-Chancellor of HP University. Charge-sheet alleged that for HPU V-C appointment the state government had twisted norms and exception was made to appoint RSS backed candidate at the top post.
Congress accused the state government for misusing of government funds and machinery for political events.
