Shimla May, 17: Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday said that neither he nor his government was shielding the controversial godman Baba Amardev of Kandaghat. Talking to media persons he denied having known the Baba, who is facing resentment from residents of 22 villages in the vicinity of his temple.
“It is completely false that me or anyone in my government is shielding the Baba,” he said. He said it was the propaganda of the CPM to paint a picture that the Baba was getting shelter from the higher ups. Baba Amardev has been admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) after a clash with the locals. Counter FIRs have been lodged by the Baba and the locals. The CM also lashed out at the BJP for creating a hype about winning the next Assembly elections in Himachal.
“Rather than holding big meetings and rallies, the Congress will concentrate on going door to door and apprising people about the development undertaken during the Congress regime,” he said.Virbhadra also clarified that he was not in the race for becoming the state president of the Congress. “I have apprised the high command about the political situation in the state and whether organizational elections should be held now or not is a decision to be taken by the Central leadership,” he remarked.
Taking a dig at the state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu without naming him, the Chief Minister said he might be lobbying hard to become the president once again but winning elections is a different game altogether.
He also took strong exception to holding of religious functions in school premises and said that law had been enacted in the state with regard to conversion. “It is wrong for the BJP to point fingers at us on the issue of conversions. Moreover, indulging in vandalism and causing damage to government school is just not acceptable,” he said.
Source Tribune India
