The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh on Friday sought an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge into alleged abnormalities in the Chester Hills housing project in Solan. The party also termed the acting chief secretary's holding a press conference to defend himself as an “unprecedented” move.
On March 31, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta addressed a press conference and rejected the allegations related to the Chester Hills housing project, calling them baseless. He said the facts would become clear once the probe is completed.
Earlier, on March 30, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) alleged violations of land laws in the project and sought an SIT investigation into suspected land mafia activities, including alleged benami land transactions.
State BJP chief spokesperson Randhir Sharma told reporters that the party is seeking a high-level probe led by a sitting High Court judge into the alleged violations linked to the Chester Hills project.
Sharma said when senior officers publicly defend themselves while the government remains silent, it raises serious concerns. He alleged that such situations create an impression that wrongdoing exists at multiple levels.
He further claimed that the government appeared to be protecting corrupt officials and even rewarding them through service extensions and favourable postings.
During his press conference, Gupta maintained his innocence but also pointed to alleged irregularities involving some former chief secretaries.
Left leaders alleged violations of Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act and argued that a fair investigation would not be possible unless the chief secretary is removed from office.
Sharma also accused the Chief Minister’s Office of functioning more like a centre of “commission culture” rather than an effective decision-making body, adding that its credibility was at stake.
The BJP spokesperson also raised concerns over the entry tax imposed on passenger vehicles, which recently led to protests and traffic disruptions at several locations across the state.
“By imposing Rs 100 entry tax on five-seater vehicles entering Himachal, the government has directly hit the common man,” Sharma said. On February 16, the government issued a notification increasing the entry tax on small passenger vehicles from Rs 70 to Rs 170. Following public backlash, the tax was later revised and fixed at Rs 130.
On Tuesday, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu informed the Assembly that the hike would be rolled back. Later that evening, the government issued a notification stating, “Keeping the general public's convenience in mind, the government has reduced the toll tax rate for passenger vehicles from Rs 130 to Rs 100.”
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