In open letter to PM,Mankotia seeks probe against Virbhadra

Former Himachal minister Major Vijai Singh Mankotia (retd) on Wednesday ruled out the chances of his early return to the Congress or the possibility of him joining the BJP.

Former Himachal minister Major Vijai Singh Mankotia (retd) on Wednesday ruled out the chances of his early return to the Congress or the possibility of him joining the BJP. He,however,resolved to continue his crusade against corruption which he claimed had gripped both the parties. Giving a new turn to his ongoing battle against Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh,Mankotia shot off an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterating his charges against Singh and demanding a probe by sitting High Court judge into omissions and commissions during his tenure as the chief minister.

Releasing copies of his seven-page letter to the media,Mankotia said he had raised voice against Virbhadra Singh with proofs,including an audio CD in 2008,but had become a victim himself.

Eventually,Virbhadra Singh was swept out of power,but he found an escape to the Lok Sabha and even became a Union minister.

In the letter,Mankotia alleged that Virbhadra Singh patronised corruption. One of his key officers,Subash Ahluwalia,who was private secretary to the CM was now facing vigilance charges. He claimed that even the BJP government,which registered a disproportionate assets case against Ahluwalia did not do much to bring the case to a conclusion. The court should be approached to seek a narco-analysis test done to pin down corruption both in politics and bureaucracy, reads the letter.

Mankotia,who is facing a defamation case,filed by Virbhadra Singh for releasing the controversial CD,said the minister had been filing defamation cases against those raising voice against him.

The former minister who has taken retirement from electoral politics has formed a front called Adalat-e-Awaam (peoples court) to fight against corruption.

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