Corruption is creeping into BJP, says Shanta

DHARAMSHALA: Known for ruffling feathers in his own party, veteran leader and former chief minister Shanta Kumar has kicked up dust again stating that “political corruption” was slowly creeping into the BJP.

He was referring to a plea against him and Vivekananda Medical Research Trust, which he heads. Filed by a Palampur resident, Bhuvnesh Chand Sood, the plea was rejected by the high court on October 16.

VMRT runs a multi-specialty hospital and a naturopathy institute in Palampur, the hometown of the veteran leader.

Kumar alleged that the plea was filed on the behest of some BJP leaders. “I was deeply hurt. I would not have minded much had the case been filed by Congress or any other political opponent. This was done by my own party,” he alleged.

However, the court has done justice by rejecting the plea, he added. He said this mischievous act was to belittle him in the eye of the public.

Kumar said that the daughter- in- law of one of these leaders got treatment at the trustrun hospital and the person called him up to compliment the good work being done by the trust. The 86-year-old, however, did not name any leader. “I can sue the petitioner for defamation, but I have no ill- will towards him or anyone,” he said.

It is worth mentioning that the high court while rejecting the plea had said, “What we can, therefore, prima facie, infer is that the petition has been set up as a dummy and the petitioner has, indulged in public mischief for oblique motive.” The petitioner had alleged that the trust had committed a fraud by setting up a commercial hospital instead of charitable.

{ SHANTA KUMAR } FORMER HIMACHAL CM Was deeply hurt that the HC plea was filed against me at the behest of leaders from my own party

BJP Himachal chief downplays reports of infighting

When asked about Shanta Kumar’s remarks, BJP state chief Suresh Kashyap refused to comment claiming that he had no knowledge of the statement by the veteran leader. He, however, downplayed the reports of infighting in the party.

On the friction between Jawalamukhi MLA Ramesh Dhawala and state party organising secretary Pawan Rana, Kashyap said that some differences occur in such a large family and they are resolved on the party platform.