Shimla police has booked Himachals’ Rural Development and Panchayti Raj Minister Anirudh Singh for allegedly “ assaulting “a few officials of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)”, after the minister ‘allegedly clashed with the NHAI officials on Monday during his visit to Bhatta Kuffar area, where a five story building had collapsed on Monday.
The minister had visited the spot, which falls in Kasumpti Assembly constituency represented by him, after the local residents and Kisan Sabha leaders had held “NHAI authorities responsible for their negligence and in failing to take corrective steps despite repeated complaints, resulting in collapse”.
Chairman of NHAI Santosh Kumar Yadav, in a letter written to Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena demanded a detailed inquiry into the incident and action against all those involved in the manhandling of NHAI officials.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari has strongly condemned the alleged attack on NHAI officials.
“He took serious cognizance of the matter and spoke with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh, urging immediate and exemplary action against all perpetrators; accountability must prevail, and justice must be delivered without delay,” he remarked.
Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh has not commented in the matter .
On Monday, a mob at the site of the collapsed building at Bhattakuffar, near Shimla allegedly assaulted two NHAI officials, blaming them for endangering their houses due to reckless digging in road construction.
Himachal Kisan Sabha state President Dr Kuleep Singh Tanwar , while blaming the NHAI and Gawar construction company for their alleged negligence and endangering human lives , demanded compensation for those whose houses were damaged or destroyed and action against the company .
