Corruption charges: Virbhadra hits out at BJP

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has vehemently opposed corruption charges leveled against him by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Singh alleged that he was being targeted out of political vendetta, adding that the matter regarding his income tax returns was pending before the Delhi high court and in various appellate authorities in Income Tax Department and IT Tribunal. 

The Chief Minister said he had already submitted his IT details to the authorities concerned and that the matter was being looked into by the high court, where a detailed reply has been filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and IT department. He stressed that it was inappropriate for anyone to comment on the issue as it was sub-judice. Asserting that he had full faith in <g data-gr-id="31">judiciary</g>, Singh advised the BJP to wait for the high court’s verdict.

Singh said the BJP was purportedly framing him and other Congress leaders as the involvement of its senior leaders in various scams was out in the open. He accused the party’s Central leadership of turning a blind eye on issues such as Lalit-gate and Vyapam and trying to divert public attention from the wrong-doings committed by its senior leaders.

He said <g data-gr-id="21">indulging</g> in “cheap political gimmicks” reflected hollowness in the BJP leadership.

Singh said the allegations leveled against him by Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad were no different than those slapped against him by the BJP during the 2012 Assembly elections. He stressed that the <g data-gr-id="30">polity</g> did not believe in the charges and the biggest example was his victory in the state polls. He said these allegations have been enquired in detail and an enquiry report is submitted to the Delhi high court.

The Chief Minister said he has been in public life for the past 53 years and it was an attempt by the Opposition to tarnish his image.