Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today hit-out at BJP leaders for misguiding the people by spreading rumors about a "Mafia Raj" in the state.
"It is disgusting on the part of the BJP to misguide people in their rallies by telling them about a Mafia Raj in the state. The fact is that the BJP-SAD alliance in Punjab sheltered the drug mafia and paid the price in the elections," he alleged at a public meeting at Gagret in Una district.
BJP leaders borrowed the word mafia from their counterpart in the neighboring state (Punjab), but this propaganda would not help them in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Singh said.
The state police is always on alert to foil the entry of the drug mafia in Himachal Pradesh, he said.
"The BJP should help in curbing the menace if they knew who in their party was involved in the illicit trade," Singh said.
The Chief Minister said the BJP was "handicapped" and had no reason to raise objections on development and resort to cheap tactics.
"The Mafia terminology is being actually used by those who themselves were associated with it," he alleged, adding that the "BJP must be knowing better from where the drugs business was being run, if any".
Singh said anyone found guilty will not be spared and would be taught a lesson.
"Defaming the state on the issue of drug menace was not right. This shows that the BJP never cared for the state and its citizens. It was trying to defame the state for its own self interests," he said.
Blaming the state BJP, the Chief Minister alleged that different type of mafias were prevalent during the BJP's rule and the one which became quite famous was the Cricket Mafia.
"A hotel was constructed on a land that was shown as barren in revenue papers. Number of trees were axed to pave the way for the five star hotel in Dharamshala," he claimed.
Singh said, "There were a few parties in the country whose main objective, now days, was to just contest elections and after winning not look back at the people who elected them."
"These politicians resort to communal and regional divide when it comes to contesting elections, ignoring the interest of the state and the nation," he claimed.
Not taking the name of MP Anurag Thakur, Singh alleged, "A few leaders, who have become MPs, think that they were above all, but the true leader was the one who had worked in the field and for the welfare of the people."
The state BJP leaders "have lost their way, they believe in regional and caste politics", he said.
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The Chief Minister also announced opening of sub-tehsil at Kaloh and a water supply scheme for Daulatpur Chowk.
He also gave his nod for the up-gradation of the Community Health Centre here to a Civil hospital.
Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for agumentation of Lift Water Supply Scheme in Amboa, Saloh Bedi, Marwadi, Dangoh Khurd, Thaplan, Pambra, Oel and Tatehra.
Singh also announced improvements in the scheme at Dharamshala Mahantan, Behar Bhater and Ghangret.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the demands of Gagret MLA Shri Rakesh Kalia that included up-gradation of the Kadh Government High School to a Senior Secondary School.
He also accepted to starting of commerce classes at the Senior Secondary School's in Marwadi, Mawa Sindhian, Andhora and Kuthera Jaswala and science classes at the school's in Mawa Kaholan, and Kalruhi.
The Chief Minister also accepted the demand of taking over DAV Public School Daulatpur Chowk and to sanction additional fund of Rs 70 Lakh, for up-gradation of roads here.
