"Trying to mislead without evidence": Himachal Minister warns opposition over politicising engineer's death

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], April 15 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh's Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Anirudh Singh, warned the opposition against making baseless allegations in the case of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) engineer Vimal Negi.
On the occasion of Himachal Day, after unfurling the national flag at the historic Ridge Ground in Shimla, Singh addressed the media, responding strongly to the opposition's allegations.
He said legal action would follow, and the government remains committed to development and a transparent investigation. Minister Singh emphasised that the state government is determined to face all challenges head-on and continue its path toward development.
"The challenges are small if the management is right," he said confidently, asserting that the government is working with commitment despite hurdles.
Reacting to the opposition's allegations of conspiracy and corruption behind the suspicious death of Vimal Negi, Anirudh Singh said that privilege would be moved, and a case would be registered against those who are giving false statements.
"Those making baseless accusations and trying to mislead the public without any evidence will face a privilege motion, and legal action will be taken against them. The opposition should not politicise a tragic death for emotional gains." Anirudh Singh said
He firmly stated that the solar power project in Pekhuvala, which is under scrutiny, had already been commissioned before Vimal Negi's posting.
"It is wrong to compare Himachal's solar power project with Gujarat's. The Himachal project was commissioned on June 15, long before Vimal Negi's death. The Gujarat project is still under construction. There has been no cost escalation in the Himachal project," said the minister.
He clarified that Vimal Negi had joined HPPCL by his own choice and that his posting had no link to the solar project controversy.
"It's unfortunate that an engineer lost his life, but politicizing this and manipulating the emotions of his family is unacceptable," he added.
Addressing the issue of the postmortem report, Singh said the process is fully transparent and video recorded, as mandated by the guidelines.
"There is no scope to tamper with postmortem evidence. A panel of doctors conducts it under video surveillance, and all recordings are available for scrutiny," he stated.
He criticized the opposition for making unverified claims about tenders being awarded to a private company related to Gujarat.
"No tenders have been given to any such firm by the Himachal government. If someone has proof, they should present it. Otherwise, such statements are not only irresponsible but also defamatory," said Anirudh Singh.
He also mentioned that the Home Secretary has constituted a special team to investigate Vimal Negi's death. The police are actively probing the matter and a charge sheet will be filed soon based on the evidence.
"No one will be spared, be it a small officer or a big name. The truth will come out and it will be shared with the public transparently," the minister assured.
Minister Anirudh Singh has sent a strong message to the opposition not to indulge in emotional or political manipulation over Vimal Negi's death. While the state government is already conducting a serious investigation, Singh assured the public that anyone found guilty, irrespective of their status, will face justice. The minister also reaffirmed the government's unwavering focus on development and transparency amidst all challenges. (ANI)