Shimla: In a bid to put Congress on the defensive during the winter session of Himachal Pradesh assembly beginning on Monday, Chief Minister PK Dhumal on Sunday attacked the UPA government for "reducing" the kerosene quota of the state and "failing" to maintain regular supply of LPG.
It was mainly because of "mismanagement" on the part of the government that regular supply of LPG was not available and people were facing acute shortage, he said adding, "cut in kerosene oil quota was a cruel joke with the poor people who had no other source to meet their energy requirements".
Ridiculing the claims of 9 per cent growth by the UPA government, Dhumal said people were not taken in by such claims and were more concerned with "Rs 1.76 lakh crore 2G Spectrum scam and Rs 70,000 crore Commonwealth Games scam".
The Bihar assembly election results have shown that the people had "punished" the Congress and its allies for "perpetual corruption and misrule", he alleged.
Dhumal charged the UPA government with discriminating against the state and said that premature withdrawal of special industrial package granted by A B Vajpayee government was a "glaring example" of this.
He asked the state Congress leaders to explain why they failed in persuading the UPA government to "do justice" with the state and restore the package.
Dhumal also urged the Centre to adequately compensate the state for denial of revenue due to the ban imposed on tree felling.
Referring to recent fake certificate scam in Himachal Board of School Education, the Chief Minister said that one inquiry report has been submitted and is being studied by the government while another report was awaited.
It appeared that the irregularities were going on for past several years but the government was determined to bring the guilty to the book and cleanse the Board, Dhumal added.
Dhumal said that about two dozen bills would be introduced and passed during the session.
PTI
