Union minister has a dig at CM

Dehradun, January 20

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma said today that by changing the face of the Chief Minister in Uttarakhand just before the elections, the ruling BJP could not brush aside the allegations of corruption and scandals involving the government.

Commenting on the BJP’s slogan, “Khanduri hai zaroori”, he asked if Khanduri was indispensable, then why was he removed in 2009.

Anand Sharma, who is on a tour of Uttarakhand to address election meetings, while talking to mediapersons, said the ruling BJP government should explain its performance to the people of the state.

“The state government is accountable to the people of the state and cannot brush aside its responsibility of explaining to the people that why it changed five Chief Ministers in seven years and still claiming to be providing a stable government. The people owe an explanation from them,” he said.

He further said Chief Minister BC Khanduri was silent when out of power and never criticised or pointed a finger at the allegations of corruption involving their government.

“Land mafia and mining mafias were active during the BJP rule. Is it only after he assumes office that he become concerned about the issues facing the state and its people?” he asked.

He said change was imminent after the state Assembly elections and the Congress, after coming to power, would provide a corruption-free, accountable and a stable government in the state.

Anand Sharma alleged that in the past five-year rule of the BJP in the state, the clock of development had reversed and the Congress had been highlighting it through a chargesheet submitted to the state Governor and the President. On the BJP slogan of “Khanduri hai Zaroori, Anand Sharma said for the overall development of the state, “Congress hai Zaroori”.

“We are not afraid of Khanduri as it was during his tenure that the Congress had won all the five seats in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections in the state”, he said.

On the reported plan of Team Anna to campaign with Ramdev in Uttarakhand, Anand Sharma said the people of the country know about the forces behind such elements.

He alleged that the RSS and allied organisations were behind all such movements and each and every organisation and person had right to campaign. “It is for the people to understand and make a judgement. Team Anna has already seen the public response in Mumbai. The yoga guru should do yoga and let politician do politics,” he added.

On the allegations of the BJP on the withdrawal of the industrial package by the Union Government, Anand Sharma denied that the package had not been withdrawn as capital and transport subsidies were continuing.