Himachal CM's resignation sought over graft charges

The opposition BJP Wednesday demanded the resignation of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh over ongoing CBI investigations into corruption chages during his tenure as union steel minister.

"The chief minister should resign from the post to ensure a free and fair probe," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Satpal Singh Satti said in a statement.

Virbhadra Singh has, however, denied any wrongdoing during his tenure.

Satti said Virbhadra Singh was called by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning. "Continuing on the chief minister's post can influence the probe."

The Congress leader was caught in a controversy when a diary entry of Rs.2.80 crore was marked against the initials "VBS" during the period when he was steel minister.

Virbhadra Singh has said neither any favour was received from Ispat Industries nor any favour granted to it during his tenure as the steel minister.

"This was confirmed even by my successor in the steel ministry, Beni Prasad Verma, who categorically stated that no favour was made to the company on behalf of the steel ministry and that the papers containing the name of a beneficiary as 'VBS' were a mere handiwork of company employees to siphon off funds," the chief minister clarified.