HP minister quits; crisis over

SHIMLA, Dec 4 — The 10-day crisis, which gripped the Dhumal government in the wake of revolt by three ministers and as many legislators, ended with the resignation of the controversial Public Works Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, here today.

Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal, today forwarded the resignation, submitted by Mr Mohinder Singh a few days ago, to Governor, Suraj Bhan, who accepted it with immediate effect. Besides, Mr Onkar Thakur, Officer on Special Duty in the Chief Minister’s secretariat who was also in the firing line of the dissidents, was sent on a long leave. The compromise formula was worked out by the four-member negotiating team comprising Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, Vice-President of the state unit of the BJP, Mr K.D. Dharmani, chairman of the 20-point programme implementation committees and Mr Jai Ram, Vice-Chairman of the State Civil Supplies Corporation and Mr Karamvir, a senior party leader, after a series of meetings with the dissidents and Mr Dhumal. Mr Suresh Chandel, M.P., also held separate meetings with the two camps to help resolve the crisis.

While Mr Dhumal conceded the demand for immediate acceptance of Mr Mohinder Singh’s resignation, the dissidents agreed to defer the contentious issue of removing the imbalance in the state executive and the disciplinary committees of the party units till the panchayat elections. Besides, it was also agreed the party would evolve a mechanism to ensure that development works, transfers and political activities in every Assembly constituency were carried out after taking into confidence the local party unit, the MLA or the defeated party candidate.

Soon after the accord the dissidents and Mr Dhumal addressed a joint press conference. They were at pains to explain that the entire episode was a party affair and it had been settled within the party. Speaking on behalf of the dissidents Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah, Vice-Chairman of the state Road Transport Corporation, said their main demand for immediate removal of Mr Mohinder Singh and Mr Onkar Thakur had been accepted. The details for restoring balance in the organisational set up had also been discussed but the exercise would be carried out after the panchayat poll.

He said today’s accord was a fitting reply to the tirade started by the Opposition Congress which had been making all-out efforts to exploit the issue. He said Mr Dhumal had been and would continue to be the undisputed leader of the party.

Mr Dhumal said that he was delaying acceptance of the resignation of Mr Mohinder Singh in view of the marriage of his daughter slated for December 11. However, this was creating misgivings in the mind of partymen and the situation was getting worse with each day as issue was being blown out of proportion.

He said he would retain the PWD portfolio till some arrangement would be made.

Replying to a question he said the crisis did hurt the image of the party but differences among leaders were a common feature in democracy. After all it were the party leaders and workers who built the party and they would work hard to repair the damage and sent right signals to people.

Dr Ram Lal Markanday, Animal Husbandry Minister, had hailed the decision of the Mr Dhumal to accept the resignation of Mr Mohinder Singh.