HP Vigilance questioned BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma in a property case. Sharma alleged harassment and claimed the move was to divert public attention from key issues raised by the Opposition during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the state Assembly.

The Himachal Pradesh State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Friday questioned senior BJP leader and Dharamshala MLA Sudhir Sharma at its headquarters in Shimla in connection with a property-related case. The legislator alleged that he was being "harassed" and that the questioning was aimed at diverting public attention from key issues being raised by the Opposition during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the state Assembly.

Sharma appeared before the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau headquarters in Shimla at around 4 pm, accompanied by BJP MLAs and supporters. He was questioned for nearly two hours.

Sharma alleges political motive

Speaking to the media outside the Vigilance headquarters and later to ANI, Sharma said the questions put to him on Friday were the same issues that had already been raised during his earlier questioning. "Whatever the Vigilance wanted to ask, they had already asked me earlier. I have given all the answers before and I have given them again today," Sharma said.

He questioned the decision to summon him to Shimla, pointing out that the case was registered at the Vigilance police station in Dharamshala and that the investigating officer was based there. "The IO is there, the case is there and the documents are there. I do not understand why I have been called to Shimla," he said.

Sharma alleged that the timing of the questioning was significant as the Monsoon Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly began on Friday. "This is the first time that, while the Assembly session is underway, an MLA has been called in the middle of the session for questioning," he said.

He alleged that the Congress government was attempting to suppress the Opposition's voice and divert attention from issues that the BJP intends to raise in the Assembly. "This has become the attitude of the present government that the Opposition's voice has to be suppressed. But this is not going to continue for long," Sharma said.

'Law-abiding citizens'

He maintained that he and other BJP leaders were law-abiding citizens and would cooperate with the investigation. "We are people who follow the law. Whatever the facts are will come before the people of the state. There is nothing to hide," he said.

Questions procedural inconsistencies

Sharma also questioned what he described as inconsistencies in the procedure followed by the Vigilance department. He said he received the first summons dated August 12 on August 12, while, according to him, the media had received information about it on August 11. He further claimed that the Assembly should first be informed when action is proposed against a sitting MLA. Sharma said he appeared before the Vigilance on August 18 after returning to the state and alleged that the Assembly was informed only subsequently.

"I do not understand what they want to do and what they are trying to achieve. It appears that even the Vigilance department itself does not have clarity," he alleged. At the same time, he said he was cooperating fully with the investigation and responding to every question.

Sharma said the investigating agency had sought documents dating back to 2013 and claimed that he possessed most of the relevant records. "Even an ordinary person building a house may not keep documents for 10 years. But I have most of the documents. I have told them that we will collect everything and submit it," he said.

He said the questionnaire given to him in Shimla was essentially the same as the one he had already answered in Dharamshala. "The questionnaire is the same. We gave all the answers there and have given them again today. There is nothing different that was said there and something else said here," he said.

'Govt trying to divert attention'

The BJP MLA accused the state government of using the Vigilance proceedings to shift attention away from issues that the Opposition plans to raise during the Assembly session. "The reality is that the present government has not done anything during its tenure. To divert attention from the issues that the Opposition is going to raise in the Assembly and from the government's failure on the ground, everyone has been put to work -- including us and you," Sharma said, addressing the media.

He alleged that the government wanted the public and media to remain focused on such controversies instead of issues concerning the state. According to Sharma, the proceedings were being used as a means of "diverting attention" from the government's performance.

Slams govt on '10 guarantees'

Sharma also criticised the Congress government's performance and alleged that its 10 guarantees had failed. "The 10 guarantees have completely failed," he alleged, adding that the government was attempting to evade responsibility. He further alleged that answers given by the government in the Assembly were not truthful and claimed that questions raised by Opposition members were being curtailed. "If the entire day's proceedings are adjourned until the next day over seven minutes of sloganeering, it shows the seriousness of the government," he said.

He alleged that the government was more interested in allowing an "entertainment" atmosphere to continue in the House than addressing the substantive issues confronting the state.

Sharma said he would continue cooperating with the Vigilance Bureau despite his objections over the manner and timing of the summons. "Whatever facts are there will come before the people of the state. There is nothing to hide," he said. He alleged that the government was acting out of "frustration" and "boulahatt" (panic) because it had failed to deliver on its promises.

The Vigilance Bureau's questioning comes amid the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, which commenced on Friday. The allegations made by Sharma regarding the motive and procedure of the investigation could not be independently verified from the material available. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)