Congress backs Virbhadra Singh ahead of Himachal assembly polls

New Delhi, June 30 (ANI): Asserting that Virbhadra Singh tendered his resignation from the Union Cabinet on moral grounds, Congress leader Jagdambika Pal on Saturday justified the Congress High Command's decision to appoint the former as the chairman of campaign committee for the upcoming Himachal Pradesh assembly polls.

"Virbhadra Singh tendered his resignation on high moral grounds. The Himachal Pradesh Government's Bharatiya Janata Party's office has misused its position and egistered a fabricated and false case against him. Till now, only the charges have been framed against him. The court has not passed any conviction or pronounced any punishment," said Pal.

"His resignation is an example in public life. If he gets an opportunity to work for the party or the organistaion, then I think don't any technical or moral ground should come to the fore," he added.

When asked whether the Congress Party's decision to appoint Virbhadra Singh may backfire in the state assembly polls, Jagdambika Pal said: "I believe that the people of Himachal understands this that Virbhadra Singh, who has been the chief minister several times there, is clean. He gave good governance in Himachal Pradesh."

"The present Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister had fears in his mind that the Congress was going to be an option in the upcoming elections, so he took such a step. But his decision will be counter- productive and the Congress Party will get full support of the masses," he added, while expressing full confidence in the party's decision.

Virbhadra Singh, who enjoys the mass support across the state, is one of the strongest contenders for the chief ministerial berth. Moreover, he also enjoys the support of majority of Congress MLAs.

Virbhadra Singh, who held the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises portfolio, resigned from the Union Cabinet on June 26, following the framing of corruption charges against him for allegedly misusing his office when he was the Himachal Pradesh chief minister in 1989.

The former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister had earlier accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in the state of vindictiveness.

"Nobody has ever raised a finger ever on my honesty and integrity. When P.K. Dhumal became the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, he fabricated the case based on false evidence. I faced the trial and the case was dismissed by the Sessions Court in Shimla," said Singh, while claiming that he was being framed.

"Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister PK Dhumal is back to his old antics. I intend to resign to devote full time to fight the case. I intend to catch the bull by horns. I am not afraid of facing trial, as my conscience is clear. I will go to court of law and court of people and expose all," he added.

According to the charges framed against Singh, he allegedly granted favours to industrialists and his conversation was recorded in an audio CD.

In the CD, Virbhadra is allegedly heard speaking with IAS officer Mohinder Lal and some industrialists regarding alleged monetary transactions for them to invest in the state.

Charges were framed against the 78-year-old Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh under Section 120 B (conspiracy) of IPC and Sections 7,11 and 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) dealing with bribery and criminal misconduct in a 23-year-old case.

The prosecution had filed a charge sheet in 2010. Sources say that Virbhadra had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi in May to apprise them of the court verdict. (ANI)