The Congress has pushed back against allegations made by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who claimed that the Himachal Pradesh government illegally diverted disaster relief funds to Sonia Gandhi. Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh has issued a stern warning to Ranaut, demanding she withdraw her accusations or face legal consequences.
“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,” Singh, the state’s Public Works Department Minister, said on Monday.
Singh further challenged Ranaut, saying, “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. I openly challenge Kangana to show proof of even Re 1 being diverted… or apologise to Sonia Gandhi for such baseless allegations.”
He also criticised Ranaut’s “intellectual bankruptcy,” reminding her that her party had reprimanded her for comments regarding the farmers’ protests just last month.
“The BJP has already cautioned her… to not issue a statement on sensitive issues. However, it seems she has not paid heed to the advice of her party’s high command,” he said.
Ranaut alleged that the Himachal Pradesh government “takes loans and gives them to Sonia Gandhi, thereby hollowing out the state’s finances”. Singh clarified that the use of central government funds is 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…” Singh said.
On Sunday, during a membership drive in her constituency, Ranaut launched a scathing attack on the Congress and 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 adding, “If we (the central government) give disaster funds, it should go to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund… but everyone knows that it goes to the ‘Sonia Relief Fund’.”
Ranaut also took a jab at Singh, who she defeated in the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in the Lok Sabha elections, saying, “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.”
Himachal Pradesh is grappling with a financial crisis exacerbated by severe landslides, flash floods, and heavy rains in August last year. The Chief Minister announced last month that he and his cabinet members would defer their salaries for two months until the state’s situation improves.
“After discussions in the Cabinet, all members agreed to forgo salary, travel allowance, and dearness allowance for two months. While this is a small amount, it serves as a symbolic gesture. I also requested all MLAs to follow suit,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
In August last year, the Centre approved the release of Rs 200 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund as an advance aid, after an allocation of Rs 360.8 crore from its share of state funds. Earlier this year, the Centre announced a support package of Rs 11,500 crore for distribution among flood-affected states.
