The former Union Minister and Himachal Pradesh Congress chief, Virbhadra Singh, has expressed regret for losing his composure while talking to media persons on Tuesday. “I have always maintained cordial relations with the media and my intention was not to hurt anyone,” he said on Wednesday.
In Kullu, a visibly perturbed Mr. Singh had threatened to break cameras when journalists asked him about income tax evasion and money laundering allegations levelled by BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley.
The AICC too had apologised for his behaviour. However, while terming his outburst unfortunate, it said he had reacted under pressure. “Such things happen in the midst of an election campaign when one is undergoing physical and mental pressure,” party spokesperson Sandeep Dixit said.
Mr. Singh said his entire income was from horticulture and apple orchard and attributed its steep increase to professional management by experts. “I have negligible income from any other source.”
He also slammed Mr. Jaitley. “He has no right to assess my income tax returns,” he said. Dismissing the BJP’s charges, he said he had never resorted to tax evasion, money laundering or forgery. He had submitted all his profit details to the income tax department. “Let the IT department contact me. How has this become a concern of BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who should be more concerned about his own leader Gadkari?” On Ispat company’s “VBS files,” he said the charges were entirely fabricated. “I have already demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter and welcome a probe.”
Mr. Singh said it was because of the upcoming Assembly elections that the Opposition was attacking him. He would file defamation cases since the charges amounted to character assassination. He singled out Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and said he was hiding behind Mr. Jaitley.
Keywords: Virbhadra Singh, Ispat Industries, unaccounted cash entries, Congress scams, Ispat payoff row, Pramod Mittal, off-book cash transactions
What Vidarbha says is of little consequence.
Waiting with bated breath for the comments on the issue from the court jesters - Digvijay Singh and Beni Prasad Verma.
The outbursts like "I will break your cameras" of the former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who is presently the chief of the party in the state, have quite obviously resulted from the anger generated in him by the serious corruption charges made by some of the opposition leaders. The pitiable part of it is that he has chosen to target the media - whose duty has been confined to mere reporting of matters- instead of those who have levelled those charges. It is regrettable that age and past experience have not taught some of the senior leaders like him any lesson on how to react in public in such situations.
“I will break your cameras." uttered by the ex-Cabinet Minister is a
paragon of restraint compared with what the serving Law Minister was
seen saying on a TV channel.
Although critics might say, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
(Hamlet, Act III, scene II).
Yes, Congress has broken the back bone of the citizen's faith in them, now it is the
turn of media which was always soft on ruling party.
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