Zeenews Bureau
Shimla: Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister and senior Congress leader Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday hit back at BJP, saying the main opposition party is targeting him as it is losing grounds in the poll-bound state.
“BJP is targeting me as it is losing grounds in Himachal Pradeesh, where assembly polls are round the corner.” Singh said while addressing a press conference in Shimla.
The senior Congress leader also denied all allegations of corruption levelled against Singh, and said that all his income comes from agriculture.
“I categorically deny all charges against me. I have not forged any documents and never faked my I-T returns,” he said, adding . “I have given full details to the I-T department about my agricultural activities and land holdings.”
Singh, however, admitted that the I-T department can question him if it notices any discrepancy in his I-T returns. “I have been a regular I-T payer and never evaded taxes.” he said.
Singh also took the opportunity and apologized to the media for his erratic behavior and threatening reporters.
“I respect media. I apologise to mediapersons for my irresponsible behavior. They are just doing their job, “Singh said.
The veteran Congress leader from Himachal Pradesh today lost his temper and threatened media when he was questioned about charges that he faked income tax records.
According to reports, a visibly upset and embarrassed Singh threatened to break the cameras of mediapersons when asked to respond to charges of corruption levelled against him.
"I will break your cameras. Don't you have any work? The allegations are wrong and baseless," Singh said.
However, the Congress party later apologised for Singh’s erratic behavior.
The strange reaction from Singh came a day after BJP’s Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley on Tuesday demanded an investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on allegations that the Congress veteran received kickbacks, and facilitated huge cash deposits in favour of his business partner Anand Chauhan.
Singh, an erstwhile ruler of Himachal Pradesh, has been accused by the BJP of allegedly receiving kickbacks to the tune of Rs 2.3 crore from Ispat Industries when he was Union Steel Minister between 2009 and 2010.
First Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 16:32