Himachal BJP chief Dr Rajeev Bindal resigns

SHIMLA: Four months after his election as Himachal Pradesh BJP unit president, Dr Rajeev Bindal, in a surprise move on Wednesday, tendered his resignation from the post to the party's national president Jagat Prakash Nadda. Bindal, in his resignation letter, said that some people were pointing fingers at the BJP in the case related to the arrest of director health services after an audio recording alluding to "cash for health department supplies" went viral, so he was resigning on moral grounds. He claimed that state BJP hads nothing to do with the viral audio which refers to a Rs 5 lakh transaction.
Want thorough probe in health scam: Bindal
In his letter to Nadda, Bindal said that being the state unit president he wanted a thorough investigation of the case without any pressure. This is the third time that Bindal has resigned without completing his term. He had quit as health minister during the Prem Kumar Dhumal regime. Then,following his election to state assembly in 2012 he was elected as the Speaker, but had to resign to take the state BJP chief post. Director Health Services Dr Ajay Gupta, now under suspension, was arrested by State Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau on May 20 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
While the Special Investigating Unit is investigating the case, someone has already lodged a complaint with Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stating that rumours are rife that a senior BJP leader had recommended the extension of service for Dr Gupta and questioned the interest of leader and whether he was getting any favour from the officer.
The complainant had requested the PMO to order a probe to look into the health department scam during the pandemic. Taking cognizance, PMO had on May 24 forwarded the complaint to Under Secretary (Public) Ambuj Sharma for action. AICC secretary and former minister Sudhir Sharma said the state government and BJP should reveal the name of the political leader whom the arrested director had met in the party office.