Dhumal, son Anurag dented HP govt exchequer by Rs 100 cr: Cong

Congress today opened another front against BJP as it raked up the row surrounding allotment of land to Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association during its rule and accused former CM PK Dhumal and his son Anurag Thakur of causing a loss of Rs 100 crore to the state exchequer.
The transfer of land smacks of "blatant constitutional impropriety, parent conflict of interest, glaring misuse of office, usurpation of public property and duping of public exchequer," party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh told reporters here.
While there was no let up in the Congress attack on the government on the Lalit Modi and the Vyapam controversy, the party today said land allotment in Dharmasala further exposes the "true face of BJP".

"I wonder if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise of acting against corruption would apply retrospectively in this case," Ramesh questioned and sought action against Thakur who is a Lok Sabha MP and president of BJP's yuva morcha wing.
Thakur, who is holding the post of BCCI secretary, was the president of HPCA when the land for the stadium was given on lease.
Asked why the issue was being raised now, he said, "when we got all the papers, we prepared a dossier and hence have put up before the public".

The fresh attack from the Congress has come at a time when Parliament is stuck in a logjam.

Producing documents in support of the accusation against the Dhumal-led government, Ramesh said the land for the stadium was given on lease at a measly sum of Rs one per month against the state government rule of leasing out at Rs 94 lakh per annum.
"This not only led to a loss Rs 100 crore to the exchequer, the CM approved the decision in the Cabinet on May 27, 2002 undermining the notings of senior officials of the state government," he said, claiming the request for the allotment came only after the approval was given.
While the Opposition including the Congress and the Left parties have taken a line of "no resignation, no discussion", BJP leaders and ministers are making it clear that there will be no resignation and government is not going to "oblige" the Opposition.