Heated debate on motion of thanks on governor's address

Moving the Motion, Jagat Singh Negi (Cong) alleged that the state was ruled by police and land mafia during the BJP regime.

He said the government left the coffers empty and the state was on the brink of bankruptcy with huge debt liability of Rs 26,000 crore on the state and spent most of time in the fabricating false cases against its political opponents.

Referring to awards won by the state during the BJP rule, he said it was like "match fixing" as people did not vote for the ruling party despite its tall claims.

Supporting the motion, Sanjay Rattan (Cong) alleged that the BJP government had commercialised education and demanded an enquiry into it.

Refuting the charges levelled by Congress, Leader of the Opposition P K Dhumal said the BJP government did not indulge in political victimisation.

He also claimed that the CD case against Virbhadra Singh was registered in June 2007, when Singh himself was the chief minister.

Dhumal said that in 2007 when he came to power, the state was under huge debt of Rs 22,000 crore and in spite of granting financial benefits to the tune of Rs 8,500 crore to the employees, the total debt liability rose only by Rs 4,000 crore.

Hailing the decision of the Virbhadra government to adopt Congress manifesto as a policy document, Dhumal asked the government to grant unemployment allowance to youths.

He asked the government to take up the matter of extension of industrial package to the state and ensure that ITBP troops are not withdrawn from Chamba border.