Virbhadra Singh will not resign over `false allegations`: Congress

Shimla, July 10 (ANI) After the first arrest of an LIC agent Anand Chauhan, in connection with the money laundering case against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh by the Enforcement Directorate, the grand old party on Sunday asserted that the main aim of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is to defame the ruling Congress party in Himachal and wants the Chief Minister to resign over 'false allegations'. Congress leader Anirudh Singh told ANI, that the BJP Government is trying to defame and harass him and his family in different ways, adding that the Chief Minister will not resign over false allegations by BJP government. Chauhan was arrested from Chandigarh under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), as he was instrumental in investing Rs 5 crore in LIC polices in the name of the Chief Minister's family members including his wife and children. "Agencies, be it ED or CBI, they are doing their work. But, regarding the BJP asking for the resignation of the Chief Minister, I want to add that the inquiry about the same has previously been done and Chief Minister got a clean chit during that time as well," Singh stated. Singh further said that the Prime Minister Modi-led government wants the ruling Congress Party in Himachal to become unstable and as far as Virbhadra's resignation is concerned, he alleged that in India, almost 90 percent politicians have cases against them. "That doesn't mean they will resign and when the judgment will be out, this time as well, the Chief Minister will get a clean chit. The main reason for all this is that the BJP are becoming a little insecure and our dear Chief Minister will not resign under any false allegations from BJP government," Last month, Singh was also called for questioning at the CBI office. The agency has also attached assets worth about Rs eight crores against the Virbhadra earlier this year. On September 26 last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had searched the Chief Minister's residence and 10 other places in connection with the case. CBI had also registered a case of disproportionate assets (DA) against the Chief Minister last year and also raided his house - Holly Lodge. Charges against Singh relates to his term as union minister of steel in the Dr Manmohan Singh-led government. It was alleged that Virbhadra and his family members had amassed wealth of Rs 6.1 crores from unknown sources of income during 2009-2011. (ANI)