HPCC chief issues notice to state BJP president

Himachal Congress chief today slapped notice on state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti for allegedly making defamatory comments about him during the Mandi Lok Sabha bypolls held recently.
HPCC chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu, who was earlier served a legal notice by former Chief Minister P K Dhumal, slapped notice on Satti, BJP leaders I D Dhiman, Rajiv Saijjal and Chander Mohan Thakur over their statement referring to him as a "contractor".
He sought withdrawal of the statement and unconditional apology from the BJP leaders within a fortnight or face criminal and civil proceedings in court.
"The allegations against the state Congress chief have been levelled in frustration by BJP leaders as they had sensed party's defeat in Mandi by-poll," the notice said.

The BJP allegations were "contrary to the facts and were actuated with malice and ill-will to harm the image of state Congress president as well as to gain political advantage," it said.
State BJP chief, when contacted, said, "So far I have not received any notice. I will be able to reply to it only when I get it".

Sukkhu said, "My life is an open book and whatever I have earned, it is through hard work over 20 years. Moreover, I have not been in power all these years and don't believe in commercialising politics as BJP did. As a Congress man, I do politics of service".

The state Congress chief challenged the BJP leaders to prove the charges against him.
Dhumal had served a notice on Sukkhu over allegation referring to "commercialisation of politics during previous BJP regime".