Shanta Kumar started lying to misled the people of the state

Vijyender Sharma

Taking a dig at BJP veteran leader Shanta Kumar, Industries minister, mukesh agnihotri alleged that by issuing statements in favour of Himachal Pradesh cricket association it seems that shanta kumar has started sailing in the same boat in which prem kumar dhumal and anurag thakur were sailing and started speaking their language.  He said that knowing well the irregularities committed by HPCA,  shanta kumar had also started lying to misled the people of the state   

Agnihotri questioned that by pushing aside the interests of the state, how one can lease out land worth crores just for rupee one to anyone. How can one resort to demolition of the residential quarters meant for teaching faculty on directives of prem Kumar dhumal. How can the BJP resort to benefit son of former chief minister in lieu of encouraging sports body. How can one behave in autocratic manner and blame others to hide their misdeeds and mislead the people, asked the minister.

Shanta Kumar should answer all these questions first rather than unnecessary blaming the present congress government of its inability to host IPL.  Over and above why didn’t the Punjab Government gave permission to King XI Punjab to hold IPL match on 7^th May and 11^th May at PCA mohali as Kings XI has the franchisee ownership of the PCA stadium and was now hosting these matches in Cuttack, questioned the minister. Now when Shanta kumar and State BJP brigade is raising hue and cry and blaming state government for missing out hosting IPL matches, why could they not ascertain the facts before.

The minister said that the government had no problem in hosting the IPL matches but senior leaders of BJP must understand that Kings Eleven Punjab has the franchisee ownership of its home grounds which includes PCA Mohali and Dharamsala cricket stadium adding that instead of HPCA it was the duty of Punjab kings XI to apply to the government of himachal Pradesh, if it wanted to host matches in the State.

The minister said that as per schedule there were total 56 matches to be played in IPL  out of which 20 were being played outside India and the remaining 36 matches are scheduled to be played in India. He said that kings XI Punjab were allotted five matches which are scheduled on 7^th & 11^th May at Cuttack and on 21^st-23^rd and 25^th May at Mohali.

He advised Shanta kumar and Prem kumar dhumal to think before speaking out. It was not possible to hold match on 7^th may as loksabha polls were due on the same day in the state and the police personnel who are deputed on election duty would be back by 12^th may from UP, uttrakhand and other states.

The state has no hitch to host IPL after 17^th May. The Punjab kings XI could have applied for the same for holding remaining three matches on 21^st, 23^rd and 25^th May at Dharamsala. “The State government would be happy more than enough to host IPL on these above dates” said agnihotri. Even if Kings XI would have asked to host one match on 11^th May we would have managed, asserted he.The minister said that BCCI never approached the state government and if it had done so we would have certainly extended support to them.

It seems that this unruly and vindictive tactics being adopted by BJP was to mislead the people and divert the attention of the public from the cases and wrongdoings committed by former chief minister, alleged the minister.