BJP infighting over Shanta’s statement comes to the fore

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 28

The recent statements of BJP MP from Kangra-cum-former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar on phone tapping that allegedly took place in the state during Prem Kumar Dhumal’s regime from 2007-12 have again brought the BJP infighting to the fore.

Ravinder Ravi, former minister and a close aide of Prem Kumar Dhumal, attacked Shanta Kumar today. He alleged that it was only due to adamant attitude of Shanta Kumar that the BJP lost the last Assembly elections.

“It is strange that Shanta Kumar is accusing his own party on the Vyapam Scam and other issues without verifying the facts and is silent on Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who is facing corruption charges,” he said.

He said Shanta should have verified facts before blaming the previous BJP government in the state for phone taping. The matter was also taken up by Virbhadra when he was the union minister in the last UPA government. Dhumal, the then Chief Minister of the state, had also offered to hand over the investigation into phone tapping charges to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Ravi also alleged that Shanta was adopting double standards when it came to politics. “During the last Assembly elections in the state, Shanta had maintained that those who had contested the last three Assembly elections should retire and provide a chance to others. However, when it came to his own interests in the Lok Sabha elections, he didn’t say no to it and lobbied harder for the post of the union minister,” he said.

Shanta’s letter on the Vyapam Scam was submitted to BJP national president Amit Shah. An anonymous letter was circulated to media in Dharamsala.

In the letter, it was alleged that Shanta took a land in Palampur at a lease of Re 1 from the state government. It was a tea garden and its change in land use was issued in a single day and now the land was being put to commercial use by Vivekanand trust headed by Shanta.

Ravinder Ravi’s statement is likely to intensify a fight between Dhumal and Shanta supporters in the state. Almost all major leaders of Shanta camp, including Kishan Kapoor, Vipin Parmar and Ramesh Dhawala, were defeated in the last Assembly elections. Since then they have been keeping a low profile.

Ravi also attacked Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. He alleged that the Chief Minister should resign in view of initiation of the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) inquiry against him.