BJP MLA says summoning an Opposition legislator during the ongoing Vidhan Sabha session is “unprecedented”; asks why a Dharamshala-related matter was shifted to Shimla headquarters
Shimla, August 21: Former minister and BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma on Friday questioned the timing and procedure of the Vigilance inquiry after he was summoned to the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau headquarters in Shimla during the ongoing Himachal Pradesh Assembly session.
Sharma alleged that the Congress government was attempting to pressure and divert the Opposition by involving its legislators in investigations while the BJP was raising public issues inside the Assembly.
Several BJP MLAs, including senior leaders Vipin Singh Parmar, Satpal Singh Satti, Balbir Verma, Dr Janak Raj, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Rakesh Jamwal and Trilok Jamwal, accompanied Sharma to the Vigilance headquarters to express their support. BJP MLAs Lokinder Kumar, Deep Raj, Ashish Sharma and Puran Chand Thakur were also present.
‘We respect the law and will cooperate’
Speaking to mediapersons, Sharma said he respected the law and the investigation process and would continue to cooperate with the Vigilance Bureau.
He said information sought by the agency was being provided and several details had already been submitted earlier.
“We are people who believe in the rule of law. Whatever the facts are, they will come before the people of Himachal Pradesh. There is nothing to hide. We have cooperated with the investigation earlier and will continue to provide full cooperation,” Sharma said.
Questions timing of summons during Assembly session
Sharma, however, described the decision to summon an Opposition MLA during the ongoing Assembly session as a serious matter.
He alleged that the Congress government was increasingly attempting to suppress the voice of the Opposition.
“It is unprecedented that an MLA is called in this manner during an ongoing Assembly session. If the government believes it can silence the Opposition through investigating agencies, it is mistaken. Such politics cannot continue for long,” he said.
According to Sharma, BJP legislators were raising important issues concerning employment, development, the economy, law and order and corruption in the Assembly, and the timing of the summons raised questions.
‘Why Shimla when the matter and documents are in Dharamshala?’
Sharma also questioned why he had been called to the Vigilance headquarters in Shimla when, according to him, the matter under investigation and related documents were linked to Dharamshala.
“The matter is related to Dharamshala and the documents are there. Then why was there such urgency to call me to Shimla? An investigation also has a procedure and protocol. What is the need for this haste?” he asked.
He further raised questions over the sequence in which information related to the investigation became public.
Sharma claimed that while he received the first summons on the 12th, information about it had reached the media a day earlier. He also alleged that questions could be raised regarding the prescribed procedure for informing the Assembly in cases involving a sitting legislator.
‘We are not afraid of any investigation’
Sharma said he was not afraid of the inquiry and would provide a factual response to every question asked by the investigating agency.
“If any clarification is required, we are ready to provide it. We have nothing to hide. Every question will be answered on the basis of documents and facts,” he said.
Responding to comments attributed to the Chief Minister, Sharma said no conclusion should be drawn against any individual before the investigation was completed.
“The investigation should be allowed to conclude and the truth should emerge on the basis of facts,” he said.
BJP alleges attempt to divert attention from government’s failures
Launching a political attack on the Sukhu government, Sharma accused the Congress of using the investigation to divert public attention from what he described as the government’s failures.
He said the BJP was raising issues related to employment, development, the state’s financial condition, corruption and law and order during the Assembly session.
“The government is trying to divert attention from these issues. The entire machinery is being used in a way that the public remains focused on such actions instead of the real issues affecting Himachal Pradesh,” he alleged.
Sharma said the Opposition would not be intimidated or silenced by such action.
“BJP MLAs are standing together. The more the government tries to suppress the Opposition, the more strongly we will raise issues concerning the people. The complete picture and all the facts will eventually be before the people of Himachal Pradesh,” he said.
The Vigilance summons and Sharma’s allegations have added another flashpoint to the political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly.
