Shimla, March 21,
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its attack on the ruling Congress government over the alleged suicide of Vimal Negi, Chief Engineer of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL). Led by Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur and BJP State President Dr. Rajiv Bindal, party leaders submitted a memorandum to Governor Shiv Prapt Shukla, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case.
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Raising serious concerns over the fairness of the investigation, BJP leaders questioned how an IAS officer could be investigated by another IAS officer. They pointed out that while an FIR has been filed against the Managing Director (MD) of HPPCL, it only mentions the position and not the officer’s name. Since the MD was transferred before the FIR was lodged, BJP argues that the FIR should explicitly include the names of the officials allegedly responsible for pressuring Negi.
Jairam Thakur stated that Negi had been missing for several days before his body was recovered from Govindsagar Lake on March 18. Despite repeated complaints from his family, no FIR was registered, and he remained untraced. Following the recovery of his body, HPPCL employees and Negi’s family accused MD Harikesh Meena and Director Desh Raj of pressuring Negi into unethical practices, leading to severe mental distress.
As public outrage grew, Negi’s family and HPPCL employees refused to cremate his body, demanding strict action against the accused officers. In response, the state government suspended the Director but merely transferred the MD. The FIR was eventually lodged after prolonged protests, prompting Negi’s family to take his body to their native village in Kinnaur for cremation.
Expressing solidarity with Negi’s family and HPPCL employees, the BJP has put forth the following demands. Firstly, the FIR must include the names of all officials involved, not just their designations. Second, a CBI inquiry should be conducted into Negi’s death as well as HPPCL’s activities over the past two years. And. Thirdly the Saffron party demanded that the investigation should not be conducted by an IAS officer, as it raises questions of impartiality.
The BJP has vowed to escalate its agitation if the government does not act swiftly, warning that the issue will not be allowed to fade without justice for Negi and his family.
