Dhumal taking credit for centrally sponsored schemes: Cong

"False allegations of discrimination and step-motherly treatment by the Centre towards Himachal levelled by the Chief Minister reflects political dishonesty and is aimed at befooling people," the Union minister for Commerce and Industry said at the third 'Parivartan Rally' here.

The Centre was giving just and fair treatment to all states, including Himachal, he said.

The state government was changing the names of various centrally sponsored schemes to take credit for development, Sharma alleged.

Sharma said the BJP was unreasonable in criticising the Centre for economic problems and claimed it was the UPA government which pulled the country out of the financial crisis when the global economy was reeling under economic slowdown.

The Union government implemented the Right to Information Act and gave Rs 27,000 crore to Himachal under MNREGA and other centrally sponsored programmes, he said.

Sharma also attacked BJP president Nitin Gadkari for allegedly trying to create bitterness and acrimony in civil society through yoga guru Ramdev.

"It is a well designed and thought out move to portray the government in poor light," he said, accusing Gadkari of being "more of a businessman and less of a politician".

In an oblique reference to factional fighting within the state unit ahead of Assembly polls slated later this year, Sharma said, "We are all workers of Congress party and there is only one supreme leader in the party and that is Sonia Gandhi."