New Delhi: The Congress party on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janta Party and Himachal Pradesh government of misusing public funds on party campaigns ahead of state assembly elections. Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) spokesperson and Chairman of the media wing Naresh Chauhan accused the government of misusing funds in the name of Azadi ka Mahotsav.
According to news agency ANI, Chauhan also said that Union Minister Smriti Irani didn't do anything about the farmers' issue. The charge came after Smriti Irani addressed the Mahila Sammelan “Nari ko Naman” Programme in Himachal on Friday.
He took a dig at Irani and said that she was protesting when LPG cylinders were Rs 400 now when the LPG cylinder is over Rs 1,100 today, she is mum.
“Smriti Irani was protesting against the inflation with cylinders on the roads when LPG cylinders were Rs 400 and now while the LPG cylinder is over Rs 1,100 today, she is mum on this. The farmers and apple producers are not getting the real cost of the fruit. They are not able to get even the cost of production. The Union and state governments have stopped the subsidies for fertilizers, pesticides, and antiseptics. Smriti Irani did not speak anything on these issues", he said, as quoted by ANI.
Congress spokesperson Alka Lamba accused Union Minister Smriti Irani of “failing to answer the questions of women and the people of the state”.
“Smriti Irani was in Himachal Pradesh today. She failed to answer the women of Himachal Pradesh who are demanding to refill the LPG cylinders under the Ujawala Yojana. The people of the state and country are facing the serious issue of inflation. Smriti Ji should have addressed those issues of the farmers in Rampur who are growing apples and due to bad policies of the state and union governments, the farmers are being looted by PM Narendra Modi’s friends. The apple growers there are in distress and she did not have any answer to the key issues. Instead of answering on the issues of the people, she focused her speech on personal issues,” said Alka Lamba.
On being asked about the special mobile digital vans to spread awareness about the development in Himachal, Lamba said, “Had there been real development in the state, there would be no need for such propaganda.”
“The Himachal government and the BJP have launched this mobile Rath to spread and propagate the development in the state. If there had been any such development in the state, there was no need for any publicity. They are doing it as if they have done nothing in the name of development. If there had been any development, the people of the state would have recognized it. They are just misusing public money. The people of the state have now made up their mind to elect the congress party in the state and the party will form a government with a full majority,” said Alka Lamba.
(With agency inputs)