New Delhi:

The Congress has responded angrily to BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s allegations – that its Himachal Pradesh government illegally transferred funds meant for disaster relief to Sonia Gandhi.

The hill state’s Public Works Department Minister – Vikramaditya Singh – warned Ms Ranaut to either withdraw the accusation or face legal action. “If Kangana does not retract her statement… we will sue for defamation. On what basis did she make such a statement? It is extremely unfortunate (that) she made a statement against a leader of Sonia Gandhi’s stature,” Mr Singh said Monday afternoon.

“There cannot be a (more) foolish statement than saying ‘funds coming from the Centre, or the state’s funds for development, are being given to Sonia Gandhi,” he said, “I openly challenge Kangana to show proof of even Re 1 being diverted… or apologise to Sonia Gandhi for such baseless allegations…”

Mr Singh also slammed Ms Ranaut’s “intellectual bankruptcy”, pointing out the actor-politician had, only last month, been reprimanded by her party over comments about the farmers’ protest.

“The BJP has already cautioned her… to not issue a statement on sensitive issues. However, it seem she has not paid heed to the advice of her party’s high command,” he said.

READ | BJP Schools Actor-MP Kangana Ranaut Over Farmer Remarks

On the specific charge – that the Congress’ Himachal Pradesh government “takes loans and gives it to Sonia Gandhi, which has made the state’s finances hollow” – Mr Singh pointed out money from the central government, and the uses to which it is put, are properly audited.

“It is a defamatory statement and we condemn it. She should produce evidence in a week… if she doesn’t, and doesn’t apologise, we will file a criminal defamation case…” Mr Singh said.

On Sunday, launching a membership drive in her constituency, Ms Ranaut hit out at the Congress and attacked Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

“Disasters and Congress have taken the state back decades… I appeal to the people to root out this government,” she said, “If we (the central government) gives disaster funds, it should go to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund… but everyone knows that it goes to the ‘Sonia Relief Fund’.”

The actor-politician also took a dig at Vikramaditya Singh – her rival for the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in the April-June general election. “The people are tired of potholes on roads… I would do more than possible for my area, but the PWD Minister should also do something as well,” she said.

Himachal Pradesh is battling a financial crisis inflamed by devastating landslides, flash floods, and heavy rain in August, last year and this. To combat this problem the Chief Minister last month said his cabinet colleagues and he would defer accepting salaries for two months.

READ | Crisis-Hit Himachal Chief Minister, Ministers Defer Salaries For 2 Months

“After discussing in the Cabinet, all members decided that till the state sees improvement… we will not take salary, TA or DA (Transport or Dearness Allowance) for two months. This is just a small amount… but it is symbolic. Apart from this, I also requested all the MLAs…” the Chief Minister told reporters.

The centre has offered financial assistance; in August last year it approved the release of Rs 200 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund, as advance aid. This was after the release of Rs 360.8 crore from its share of state funds. And, earlier, this year, the centre announced Rs 11,500 crore support; this will, though, be distributed among flood-affected states.

Meanwhile, Ms Ranaut, a fierce critic of the opposition and avid supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also made headlines for the legal battle over her new film ‘Emergency’.

READ | “But Creative Freedom?” Censor’s Deadline For Kangana’s ‘Emergency’

The movie is based on the political turmoil in 1975, when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister. It ran into trouble after Sikh organisations alleged it misrepresents their community, and arguments for and against its release are being heard by the Bombay High Court.

With input from agencies

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New Delhi:

The Congress remains on alert in Himachal Pradesh – a state it almost lost after Tuesday’s Rajya Sabha election loss left its government on the brink of collapse – following reports that Vikramaditya Singh on Thursday night met six rebel MLAs whose cross-voting triggered this political storm.

Mr Singh – the son of six-time former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh – did not cross-vote but his emotional outburst on the day, in which he accused the Congress of disrespecting the memory of his father, was an added challenge for the party as it fought off rival Bharatiya Janata Party’s attacks.

Himachal’s Urban Development Minister is in Delhi for two days to meet the Union Road and Transport Ministry. Sources said he met the rebel MLAs – who this morning moved the Himachal Pradesh High Court against their disqualification – in Panchkula, which is in BJP-ruled Haryana.

Sources also said two other Himachal Pradesh Congress MLAs have also met the rebels.

Neither side has yet commented on the subject of these discussions.

Mr Singh’s mother, Pratibha Singh, the Congress’ state unit boss, told news agency ANI she has “no idea” of her son’s schedule. “He was here till last night. What he did after… I don’t know.”

Amid speculation the Singh family is biding time before it challenges the Congress’ chief ministerial pick, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, for control of the state government, Ms Singh also said she will meet the party’s behind-the-scenes boss – Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi – to “keep them informed”.

READ | “MLAs Are Upset, Natural…”: Himachal Congress Chief On Cross-Voting

“Definitely. They are our high command and we have to go and apprise them… that this is the situation now in Himachal Pradesh and (they can) tell us what to do,” she said.

Further comments by Ms Singh – including telling ANI “… it is true that the BJP’s (government) is working better than ours” – seem to suggest the Congress’ Himachal problems are not yet over.

The comments have been seen in the light of the general election due in a few months.

The hill state has been a bastion for the BJP since Prime Minister Narendra Modi led his party to power at the centre; there may be only four seats, but the BJP won all four in 2014 and 2019.

“From Day 1 I have been telling the Chief Minister that we can only face upcoming elections if he strengthens the organisation. This is a very tough situation for us… we can see a lot of difficulties on the ground (and) as per directions of PM Modi, BJP is going to do a lot of things,” she said.

#WATCH | When asked about speculations of Vikramaditya Singh’s meeting with the six disqualified Congress MLAs, Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh says, “I have no idea about this. He was here until last night. What did he decide further and where did he go, I… pic.twitter.com/gqwAIHcfZR

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024

“We are on weak footing… I have urged him again and again. This is a difficult time, but still we have to contest elections and win,” Ms Singh, who also showed sympathy for the cross-voting MLAs, said.

On Wednesday, as the Congress dealt with the challenge of cross-voting MLAs, Vikramaditya Singh had announced his resignation. He accused the Chief Minister of “negligence” towards his lawmakers and broke down as he accused the party of not allotting land for a statue of his father.

READ | “Didn’t Get Land For Father’s Statue”: Himachal Congress Leader

“In the past year, I have not said a word on this government but it is my responsibility to speak out now…” he declared. Hours later he backtracked, but underlined his ambivalent stance as he did so.

That same day the Congress pulled off a last-gasp maneuver to save itself, expelling 15 BJP MLAs to bring down the effective strength of the House and pass the state budget.

READ | Congress Buys Time In Himachal? Budget Passed Amid Coup Fears

The Assembly session was then adjourned, buying the party at least till after the general election.

The BJP must also now contest the expulsion of its MLAs – including former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur – before it can mount another attack on its rival.

For its part, the Congress has declared itself ‘safe’ for now after its top troubleshooter, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, was rushed in.

READ | “All Is Well”: DK Shivakumar On Crisis In Congress’s Himachal Unit

He met both Vikramaditya Singh and Pratibha Singh in Shimla Thursday evening, after which he told reporters, “All is well. This government will stay for five years. All issues have been sorted out…”

The crisis exploded after the six rebels, and three independents who had professed their support, voted for the BJP’s candidate in this week’s Rajya Sabha election, and were then taken by the party.

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