HP govt withdraws ministerial facilities from Anil Sharma

Manali: The Jai Ram Thakur government on Tuesday withdrew ministerial facilities like accommodation, luxury SUV, security personnel and other staff from former cabinet minister Anil Sharma, who resigned on April 12 after pressure from his colleagues and the BJP over his father Sukh Ram and his son Ashray Sharma quitting the BJP and joining the Congress.

Sharma, who has made it clear that he will not vacate the ministerial residence until government does not give him accommodation he is entitled to as an MLA, said he had returned all the facilities of a minister soon after he had resigned from the post of power minister. “I have not received any notice to vacate the accommodation. Where will I shift my household goods? Being an MLA, it is responsibility of the government to provide me with an accommodation. Only then can I move out,” he said.

Sharma has faced criticism in the BJP over his decision not to campaign against the son, the Congress candidate from Mandi constituency. Sharma resigned from his ministerial post but still is a member of the BJP. However, the BJP government is preparing ground for his removal from the state legislative assembly.

Sharma’s office too has been given to social justice and empowerment minister Dr Rajiv Saizal. The office is being renovated. Sharma’s government vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner, has also been withdrawn. The vehicle was not being used by Sharma for a long time.

After making former power minister completely “powerless”, the Himachal BJP is mulling disciplinary action against him for not working for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. He did not even attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in his home constituency of Mandi.

Sharma had said many times that he would not campaign against his son anywhere in Mandi parliamentary constituency but he was ready to campaign for the BJP in other constituencies.

According to sources, the Himachal BJP has prepared a report on Sharma over his failure to work for the party. The sources said the BJP has some video and audio clips of Sharma where he is allegedly campaigning for his son Ashray. The report will be sent to the BJP high command for further action.