The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) has accused former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for defending the illegal actions of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and accused him of misleading people on the issue by distorting facts.

In a press communiqué, Khushi Ram Balnatah, vice-president of HLP said Dhumal was not behaving as the Leader of the Opposition, but more like the defence counsel of the HPCA, which was headed by his son Anurag Thakur.

He said only one FIR had been registered in connection with the irregularities pertaining to the construction of a luxury hotel by the HPCA and by questioning the registration of a second FIR, Dhumal had only betrayed his ignorance about the facts of the case.

He asked BJP leader to explain how the HPCA was transformed from a society to a commercial company. As per law, in case a society has to be wound up, proper liquidation proceedings have to be carried out and for the same a liquidator has to be duly appointed. He wanted to know from him if proceedings were carried out to liquidate the HPCA.

He also questioned the decision to allotting the playground of the government school in Shimla to the HPCA. Balnatah also accused Dhumal for giving undue benefits on the sports body, headed by his son Anurag Thakur. He also accused Anurag for replacing the constitution and inducted life members with voting right, to benefit himself only. He asked Anurag to make public the names of all life members along with their addresses.

The HLP leader urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to ensure speedy investigation in the case and take appropriate actions so that no sports body could grab the assets of the state in the name of promoting sports.