BJP Leaders Questioned in Shimla Over Alleged Horse-Trading in Rajya Sabha Elections
Shimla Police questioned several BJP leaders and former MLAs on Friday regarding an alleged horse-trading case linked to the Rajya Sabha elections. Those summoned included former MLAs Davinder Bhutto, KL Thakur, and Rajinder Rana, who appeared at the Boileauganj Police Station. Rakesh Sharma, the father of former Congress legislator Ashish Sharma, was also called in for questioning.
Speaking to the media, BJP leader Rajinder Rana described the allegations as baseless. He stated, “There is a significant difference between making an allegation and proving it. I am 58 years old, and until now, no one has filed a complaint against me in any panchayat or police station. This is my first time at a police station. We are here to cooperate with the investigation, but allegations alone don’t prove guilt.”
Rana also criticised the state government, questioning why the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh chooses to stay in five-star hotels in Chandigarh instead of Himachal Bhavan, where he has a suite. He asked, “Who covers the expenses for his stays, and why does he avoid meeting the people of Himachal Pradesh? The state is in financial distress, and the people deserve transparency from their elected officials.”
He continued his criticism, adding, “Today, I visited a police station, thanks to the ‘mercy’ of the Chief Minister. The central government should award him a gold medal for his deceit. He has made false promises about employment and financial aid for women, and none of them have materialised. Himachal Pradesh is under a debt of Rs. 65,000 crore, and in just a year and a half, this government has taken a loan of Rs. 35,000 crore.”
Earlier in March, Shimla Police registered an FIR against Ashish Sharma, former Independent MLA, and Rakesh Sharma, his father, based on a complaint by Congress legislators Bhuvnashwar Gaur and CPS Sanjay Awasthi. The FIR, filed at the Boileauganj police station on March 10th, cited sections 120B, 171(e), and (c) of the IPC and sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The complaint outlined three main allegations: undue pressure and unfair means during Rajya Sabha elections, horse trading during the budget session, and the use of state resources for illegal purposes.
Doubts Revealed
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
Shimla -: Shimla is the capital city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, known for its beautiful hills and cool climate.
Horse-Trading -: Horse-trading in politics means making secret deals or agreements, often involving money or favors, to get someone to vote a certain way.
Rajya Sabha -: Rajya Sabha is the upper house of India’s Parliament, where members are elected by the state legislatures.
MLA -: MLA stands for Member of Legislative Assembly, which is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature of a state in India.
Rajinder Rana -: Rajinder Rana is a politician who was questioned by the police in this case. He is a former MLA.
FIR -: FIR stands for First Information Report, which is a document prepared by the police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offense.
Ashish Sharma -: Ashish Sharma is one of the people against whom an FIR was filed in this case.
Rakesh Sharma -: Rakesh Sharma is the father of Ashish Sharma and was also mentioned in the FIR for alleged wrongdoing during the elections.