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Dhumal justifies alliance with Sukh Ram

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Sunday defended the Bharatiya Janata Party's alliance with Sukh Ram's Himachal Vikas Congress, saying the former Union communication minister was a "a lesser evil than the Congress".

Replying to questions at his first press conference in Jalandhar on Monday, he said his cabinet colleague Sukh Ram has been "exonerated" by the "people's court" as demonstrated by his election with the second highest margin in the state in the recent assembly poll. However, he added, it remained to be seen what the law courts would decide about him. He further asked how people's verdict could be ignored.

On the BJP stalling the 11th Lok Sabha's proceedings for 11 days on the issue of corruption charges against Sukh Ram following the discovery of cash from his Delhi home in August 1996, Dhumal quipped, "He is a lesser evil" than the Congress which he dubbed as "the most corrupt".

The HP chief minister denied the charge of back-seat driving by Sukh Ram, claiming that he was in control of the administration. ''The government is headed by me'', he stressed.

The chief minister also paid his respects at the Golden Temple and at Jallianwala Bagh.

UNI

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