HP govt planning law to fight corruption: Sukhu

Dharamshala: Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in the assembly on Thursday that all allegations of corruption levelled by BJP during the adjournment motion were baseless and an attempt to mislead people.
In his reply to allegations of corruption levelled by BJP during the adjournment motion, the CM said the govt was planning to bring in a law to fight and curb corruption. “We have been contemplating such an act for the state for long. We will hold discussions, seek opinions from all quarters and move ahead if all agree for such an act to curb and fight off corruption,” Sukhu told the House in his reply.
The CM said state govt was also planning initiatives to save forests from smugglers and illegal felling. “We are contemplating to close forests for certain time of the year. We need to have a system to save forests. We are planning to extend the ban on tree felling by adding more species in near future,” said Sukhu.
To allegations of corruption levelled by BJP legislators in the implementation of the excise policy, the CM said govt’s excise revenue had increased considerably and BJP was calling it a scam.
“Previous BJP govt earned Rs 600 crore in excise in four years and when we made the same amount in just one year, it became a scam for BJP. As far as clubbing of liquor units is concerned, it has not happened for the first time. Even during BJP rule, liquor units were clubbed,” said Sukhu.
The CM said state govt would bring in more transparency in the functioning of governance and wherever there is corruption, strict action would be taken. “When we formed the govt, the first step we took was to dissolve the Staff Selection Board. Papers were being leaked and sold for Rs 50,000 each. We acted swiftly and dissolved the board. So far in this case, 14 FIRs have been registered, 48 people arrested, including nine former employees of the board,” said Sukhu.
On BJP’s allegations regarding HPTDC hotels, Sukhu said BJP has been misleading people by claiming that the government is planning to sell loss-making hotels. “Even if such a decision is to be taken, it would be done through a proper procedure, discussed and brought to the cabinet and not done in a hush-hush way,” he said.