Dhingra panel report: Congress slams Haryana govt

NEW DELHI: The Congress came down heavily on the Haryana government, saying the constitution of Dhingra commission was “nothing but a mere cog in the wheel of malicious witch-hunt propagated and perpetuated by the BJP for years together with complete and utter disregard” for truth and facts.

In its initial response on the submission of the report by Justice SN Dhingra commission of inquiry to the Haryana government, the Congress also alleged that the BJP, including its governments at the Centre and state, have run a political agenda of “vendetta and revenge” for years together purely with a view to “vilify and slander”.

However, the party said it will give a detailed response after examining the report once it is made public.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters that portions of the report were leaked to press and aired on most television channels. “This reflects the mal-intent and a sinister conspiracy of the Haryana government, top leadership of BJP and even the commission itself. It clearly proves that the sole intent is to defame, conspire and malign, rather than adjudge the issues fairly.”

He said the circumstances and facts clearly suggest that the commission has been unable to appreciate this “conspiracy of name calling and maligning” without an iota of evidence.

PANEL NEVER SUMMONED VADRA, SAYS HIS COUNSEL

“We were always ready to cooperate but Dhingra panel never summoned Vadra or any other official of his company,” Vadra’s counsel Suman Khaitan later said.

Khaitan said holding anything against Vadra or his company without giving them a chance to be heard went against the principles of natural justice. “If the government feels that my client is a bad man and they have a ‘jamaai babu’ report, why are they hiding the report? Let the report come out,” he told reporters.