Questioning the neutrality of the Commission looking into alleged scams during the previous BJP government in Uttarakhand, senior BJP leader Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank today accused the probe panel of preparing its report at the behest of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.
"The charges against my tenure are politically motivated and the so-called Commission looking into them is preparing its report at Bahuguna's residence. This fact is not hidden from anyone," the former Chief Minister said.
Nishank was responding to reporters' queries on the erstwhile Bhati Commission which had indicted him a few months ago in its report on irregularities in Terai and Seed Development Corporation.
Reacting sharply to Bahuguna loyalist Subodh Uniyals' statement that the Commission probing allegations against him had been asked to submit its report expeditiously, the BJP leader said instead of issuing threats to the Opposition, the state government should try to save itself.
The state had seen Bahuguna government's "failure" during the recent natural calamity in the hill state and it should try to save itself rather than bullying the Opposition, Nishank said.
On the erstwhile Bhati Commission, he said it was constituted out of political vendetta to bring disrepute to the previous BJP government.
"The Commission is being used to settle political scores with the BJP," Nishank said.
The probe panel head K R Bhati had resigned soon after the Commission's report indicting Nishank on irregularities in TDC was tabled in the state Assembly during its budget session in March this year.
Now headed by senior IAS officer Sushil Chandra Tripathi, the Commission is probing alleged irregularities in at least half-a-dozen government-owned corporations during Nishank's tenure as Chief Minister.
