Himachal Pradesh elections 2017: Congress poll campaign to rake up Jay Amit Shah firm issue

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday said it will rake up the issue of spike in turnover of a firm owned by BJP chief Amit Shah`s son Jay Shah during the campaigning for the upcoming Himachal Pradesh assembly polls to counter BJP`s allegations of corruption.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was facing the due process of law over corruption allegations levelled by the BJP, said Ranjeeta Ranjan, All India Congress Committee Secretary, and asked if a probe will be ordered into the 16,000-fold spike in turnover of a company belonging to Jay Shah.

"The BJP gave allegations of corruption of Rs 6 crore as a gift (to Virbhadra Singh) and he is facing cases of ED (Enforcement Directorate). He is following the process of law.

"In case of Jay Shah, turnover of a company rose from Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore in a year. We are not saying he is guilty. We have demanded a probe by sitting Supreme Court judges. These issues will now be raised in Himachal," Ranjan told reporters here.

The Congress is already raking up the issue in Gujarat where elections are due this year. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party has rubbished the allegations, saying Jay Shah`s business was perfectly legitimate and legal, and has alleged that Congress was attempting to divert attention "from its own scams and misdeeds." 

Ranjan said Congress chief ministerial candidate is "so strong" that BJP repeatedly rakes up corruption allegations. 

Stressing that the Congress has made "foolproof" preparations for the polls, she said the party has been waiting for announcement of election date (November 9) for the past 10 days. The date was announced on Thursday by the Election Commission.

"Virbhadra Singh is the Congress chief ministerial candidate but there is no clarity in the BJP on its choice for the post," she said. 

Ranjan expressed confidence that Congress will be re-elected on the basis of the work done by its government over the past five years. 

She also said that there was no infighting in the party.