Ready to take dope test with CM outside Himachal Pradesh, says ex-PCC vice-prez Neeraj Bharti

Shimla, Jun 8 (PTI) Reacting sharply to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's remark calling him a "drug addict", former PCC vice-president Neeraj Bharti on Monday challenged Sukhu to undergo a dope test with him outside the state. While responding to a media query on a spate of allegations Bharti made against the working style and administrative functioning of the state government while tendering his resignation recently, Sukhu said on Sunday, "It's not an issue. If a drug addict makes a statement, what does it matter? His statements should not be taken seriously." In a video released on Monday, Bharti, a former Chief Parliamentary Secretary and son of sitting Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar, claimed that he and Sukhu have drunk together on many occasions. Bharti claimed that he had seen Sukhu as an MLA eating khaini inside the Vidhan Sabha while he and his colleagues went out for a smoke. Khaini is coarse, sun-dried or fermented tobacco leaves mixed with slaked lime. It is an addictive form of smokeless, chewing tobacco. In the video, Bharti said he is willing to take a dope test along with the chief minister and his friends in Chandigarh as the test reports could be manipulated in Himachal Pradesh. Referring to the chief minister's statement that Bharti's allegations were "not a big issue", he asked why then the chief minister has gotten his Facebook account blocked and what he fears. BJP MLA from Dharamshala, Sudhir Sharma, told reporters that "if Bharti's accounts are blocked, it means there is some truth in his statements". He further sought a clarification from the chief minister on the issue. Much to the chagrin of the Congress, Bharti wrote several Facebook posts from Thursday to Saturday, levelling a series of accusations against the functioning of the state government and stating that party workers are being ignored. Among other accusations, Bharti alleged irregularities in processing contractors' payments in the state. Referring to transfers, he said, "One does not know when the transfer process begins or when it ends... To add to it, there is no trace of the DOs (demi-official letters) that are sent." He also claimed that five briefcases full of currency are collected monthly, with two kept locally and three sent to leaders in Delhi. The state Congress has expelled Bharti for six years for anti-party activities. In separate statements, BJP spokespersons Rajinder Rana and Sandeepni Bhardwaj said that Congress must respond to Bharti's "five suitcases per month" allegation against the chief minister. The party's silence is justified if the Congress high command accepts three "suitcases"; otherwise, it ought to remove Sukhu from the chief minister's post, the BJP leaders added. PTI BPL RUK RUK