Cong trains guns on HPCA

Dharamsala, May 19
Congress leaders today launched a scathing attack on the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) alleging that the organisation had been made as a political platform by the BJP.
Senior Congress leader and former MP Chander Kumar and HPCC spokesperson Kewal Singh Pathania, while addressing a press conference here today, alleged that if voted to power, the Congress government would take over the Pavillion hotel being brought up the HPCA.
“We will take over the hotel and give it for making the office of the VC of Himachal Pradesh Central University,” they said.
They alleged that while the state government was maintaining that it did not have land for setting up Central University at Dharamsala, it had given about 80 kanal land on lease to the HPCA for bringing up a five-star hotel.
The Congress leaders went on to even oppose the Akshardham temple in Dharamsala. They alleged that the land being given for bringing up the Akshardham temple should be used for setting up some education institute.
Meanwhile, GS Bali, another senior Congress leader and MLA from Nagrota Bagwan, in a separate press conference, claimed that Kings XI Punjab was forced to refund Rs 100 per ticket to the students after he offered to provide subsidy on his own.
Kangra (OC): Senior Congress leader GS Bali today warned the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association to desist from indulging in politics and suggested HPCA officials to restrict themselves to the game of cricket only.
Bali said this while addressing a press conference at his residence here today. He described it unfortunate that the HPCA had started indulging in politics which would have serious repercussions.
Bali said the HPCA was not a political organisation. So it had no right to indulge in politics and issue statements against senior Congress leaders.
He suggested the HPCA to improve cricket as a game and not use cricket as a political tool for its political vested interests.