Shimla/Una, January 24:
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday demanded a high-level, impartial and time-bound probe into the alleged Rs 28-crore land scam involving HIMUDA in Haroli, the home constituency of the Deputy Chief Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri saying the people of Himachal Pradesh are fed up with corruption and plunder under the Congress regime.
BJP state general secretary Sanjeev Katwal launched a scathing attack on the Congress government, describing the scam as a “living proof of Congress’ corruption-driven governance”.
He alleged that corruption has become a policy, with public money being openly misused for private benefit under political protection.
Katwal said land full of ravines, seasonal streams and natural drains was falsely shown as suitable for flat construction and purchased using government funds.
He questioned who certified such unusable land as construction-worthy and whether the exercise was a deliberate attempt to cause loss to the state exchequer.
He further alleged that the land was bought at prices several times higher than the circle rate, pointing towards commission, collusion and large-scale financial irregularities.
The registration of an FIR by the Vigilance Department, he said, confirms that serious lapses have already surfaced during preliminary investigations.
The BJP leader asserted that the responsibility does not lie with the landowners alone. Officials, valuation authorities, employees and senior officers who processed and approved the files must also be held accountable.
“Such a massive fraud cannot take place without political backing,” he said, demanding that Congress clarify the role of those involved.
Taking a dig at the ruling party’s slogan of “systemic change”, Katwal said it has turned into an empty claim, with corruption continuing unchecked. He alleged that the culture of corruption that took root earlier has been allowed to flourish even now.
Warning the government against any attempt to shield influential individuals or restrict action to minor functionaries, Katwal said the BJP would take the fight against corruption from the streets to the Assembly if needed.
