BJP presses for Virbhadra Singh's resignation

Pressing for Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's resignation over allegations of corruption, the BJP Wednesday moved the Election Commission and called upon the Congress leadership to take action against him.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Anurag Thakur, MP, met Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath Wednesday and sought action against Virbhadra Singh saying he had hidden information in his election affidavits.

The party has alleged that promoter of Venture Energy and Technology Pvt Ltd., which had been given extension for a pending hydropower project by the Himachal government, had made cheque payments of Rs.3.5 crore "to Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh".

The Bharatiya Janata Party further alleged that the money had been shown as loan, and Virbhadra Singh and his family had become shareholders in another firm belonging to the promoter of the power company.

Thakur said the Himachal chief minister had not declared the payments or the shares in his election affidavits.

"We told the Election Commission that if Virbhadra Singh has hidden information, strict action should be taken against him," Thakur told IANS, adding that the poll panel had assured them that appropriate action will be taken in the matter.

Thakur, MP from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, said this also raised a question mark on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's stance against corruption.

He said: "Today is the first day of the new year. He (Rahul Gandhi) can start with the resignations of the chief minister and his wife."

Pratibha Singh is Congress MP from Mandi.