Criticising the state government over midnight swoop to take over the properties of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), the state cricket body officials on Sunday said they would move high court against the government's decision.
HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma while addressing a press conference here said the morning of October 27 would be remembered as a black day in the history of Himachal Pradesh.
“The Congress government took over the HPCA stadium and the hotel in the middle of night. We will move the high court against the government's action,” said Sharma.
He said what the Congress government did, reminds about decade of 70s when emergency was imposed in the country.
He also raised fingers over the working of the Kangra district administration, alleging that the officials were ready to take an action even before the state cabinet's decision to take over HPCA's property was duly approved.
“The Kangra deputy commissioner and his team entered the stadium complex forcibly without prior information to the HPCA officials,” alleged Sharma, adding that the authorities didn't waited till morning.
Sharma alleged that when the authorities took the action, all 17 rooms of Aveda hotel in the stadium complex was occupied and the guests were forced to stay inside like hostages. “It was an attack on the culture of the country and will affect the tourism in the region,” said Sharma.
He further said the government action came even when the matter was sub judice as the district and sessions court Kangra at Dharamsala had marked an inquiry to the state vigilance bureau into the HPCA's functioning.
Sharma alleged that when the authorities took the action, all 17 rooms of Aveda hotel in the stadium complex was occupied and the guests were forced to stay inside like hostages. “It was an attack on the culture of the country and will affect the tourism in the region,” said Sharma.
He further said the government action came even when the matter was sub judice as the district and sessions court Kangra at Dharamsala had marked an inquiry to the state vigilance bureau into the HPCA's functioning.
“Despite of the clear direction that the vigilance bureau will report to the court about the investigations, the state government took such action which amounts to contempt of court,” said Sharma.
Alleging that ever since the Congress came into power, it has been continuously targeting the HPCA, Sharma said it seems that the government has lost faith in judiciary, its own investigation agencies and officials.
He said the government was not interested in the development of the state and is working with a vindictive nature.
He also alleged that son of former Congress minister Ram Lal Thakur ransacked the HPCA stadium at Bilaspur and took over it forcibly.