New Delhi: In a blistering attack on the six Congress MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP candidate during polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday called them "kaale naag" (venomous snakes), saying that they plotted to topple the Congress government just when it was all set to come out with a "welfarist" budget.
“When the time came to present the state budget, they (six rebel MLAs) tried to topple our government. Our six poisonous snakes, who were in cahoots with BJP leaders, sold their ideologies and conscience. We were to present the budget on February 28 and they visited the Speaker the day before, on February 27, threatening him. This reflects their mindset. They traded their integrity to the BJP,” a fiery CM Sukhu said at a public event on Friday.
Claiming that the "traitors" were accorded a red-carpet treatment on their return to Shimla for the budget presentation in the Assembly, the CM alleged, “You may have noted how the six traitors had the CRPF and Haryana Police and helicopters at their disposal. They arrived on helicopters for the Assembly session but didn’t sit with us when the budget was presented. We had prepared a budget that included schemes and initiatives for farmers, the poor, common man and government employees. We sanctioned 4% Dearness Allowance for government employees. Our retired women employees and police personnel used to receive Rs 210 in monthly pension. I ensured a five-fold increase in their pensions. The money for this came after we managed to curb the back-door corruption of these leaders.”
Claiming he wasn’t deterred by the events over the last few days, the CM added, “I won’t be deterred by what happened over the last few days. With your affection and support, I can guarantee that we will make Himachal a self-sufficient state over the next 4-5 years.”
Weighing in on the matter of Vikramaditya Singh, who had stepped down from his post in the Himachal cabinet, CM Sukhu, as quoted by ANI said, “Vikramaditya Singh was in the cabinet yesterday. After the cabinet, he went to Chandigarh and met other Legislators. He wants to come to the Congress party. I had a word with him in the morning.”
Meanwhile, reacting to what the Congress observers said after meeting the party MLAs in the hill state a day back, state Congress chief Pratibha Singh said, “Observer ke bolne se kya hota hai? (how does it matter what the Observers say?) Observers want this to happen. It is difficult to say what people want and what will happen.”
Notably, after meeting the party MLAs amid the political upheaval in Himachal, Congress observer DK Shivakumar said all was well within the government and that CM Sukhu will hold his post for his full term. He further asserted that all the difference within the party had been ironed out.
Speaking from her experience of a political career with the Congress, which has spanned several decades, Singh said it is hard to predict what future holds for the hill state.
"Let's see. I have spent my entire life in the Congress party. We started from the Congress party. We affiliate with the Congress ideology. I can't say what can happen tomorrow," ANI quoted Singh as saying.
Asked if the BJP wants to field her from Mandi and bring Vikramaditya Singh on their side, Pratibha Singh said they were “not in touch” with them.