Cong revives 'mining mafia' charge against BJP govt in HP

Dharamshala: Opposition Congress, on Thursday, revived mining mafia charge against the BJP government, almost two years after the party had lost to the BJP on similar charge for patronising a 'mafia raj' in Himachal Pradesh.

In state assembly, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri levelled choicest allegations against the government on not acting against the mining mafia –a promise that the BJP had made in the 2017 polls .

He described the situation in Una–a district bordering Punjab as complete anarchy and asked for sending a police battalion to crack down this mafia rule.

Unsatisfied with the reply of Industries minister Bikram Thakur, Agnihotri led the opposition to stage a walk-out from the House .

Even brief intervention of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur assuring action and even considering suggestion to depute police battalion to deal with illegal mining in Una district, did not pacify the agitated opposition members.

Agnihotri, pointedly referred to heavy movement of the vehicles and machines in the area, during night hours. He said Rs 922 crore swan river project has too been hit by illegal mining and could be disaster for the state.

"I had sent 62 photographs to Chief Minister highlighting the issue, and lawlessness in the area yet no action has been taken. If the Congress government had issued mining leases let these be cancelled to deal with mafia," he offered .

Earlier to this, Industries minister admitted that mining was rampant in Una areas and he had himself visited the area to study the problem. Some steps have been taken already.

He reminded Agnihotri of his term as industries minister in the Congress government. "Of 91 total mining leases, 78 were granted by Agnihotri himself. During my period only 13 leases for mining were sanctioned," he said.

During the 2017 assembly poll campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had listed five types of mafias being active in Himachal Pradesh during the Congress regime. These were mining mafia, drug mafia, tender mafia, forest mafia and transfer mafia and resolved to wipe-out the mafia raj.

But, the Congress seems to have found the same stick to beat the BJP with.