Himachal: Even BJP's CM candidate is out on bail, says Cong after Modi's jibe at Virbhadra

The Congress has slammed the BJP for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe at Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh that his state government was running on bail.

Congress leader and Punjab Cabinet Minister Manpreet Badal countered the charge by saying that even BJP's CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal and his son Anurag Thakur were on bail.

Badal was addressing journalists at the party's state headquarters in Shimla. Prime Minister Modi had said that Congress party claims of zero tolerance against corruption even as its chief minister was out on bail. Virbhadra Singh, 83, is currently out on bail in connection with a Rs-10 crore disproportionate assets case against him.

"PM Modi has charged our chief minister for corruption but will he take back the ticket given to Mr PK Dhumal? Will he remove him as his party's chief ministerial candidate since he and his MP son Anurag Thakur are also out on bail in corruption cases", Badal said.

"CBI raid was conducted against Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on the day of his daughter's marriage. This was against ethics. The people of Himachal will avenge the insult to the daughter of the state", he added.

The Virbhadra Singh government had accused Mr PK Dhumal and his son Anurag Thakur of leasing out forest land to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) at throwaway prices. Anurag Thakur was the HPCA boss when the land transfer was done.

Badal further alleged that Prime Minister Modi had not fulfilled his promises made to the people of Himachal during the Lok Sabha election campaign. "The Delhi-Ladakh railway line was promised but nothing has been done so far. Modiji had also assured apple farmers that their fruit concentrate in drinks would be permitted. All these have remained poll promises."

He said that demonetisation and GST bombs, which had been hurled upon people, have hit the economy hard. A large number of people have been rendered jobless. "Congress' comprehensive win in the Gurdaspur by-poll is a testimony of the waning popularity of PM Modi. It was for the first time during the three-and-a-half years of his rule that PM Modi has announced a CM candidate fearing a loss", Badal went on to say.

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