A goof-up over samosas and cakes meant for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has snowballed into a controversy in Himachal Pradesh necessitating a probe by the CID which termed it as an “anti-government” act. The furore started after refreshments meant for CM Sukhu were served to his security staff instead.
A highly placed official in the CID said in his note on the October 21 incident that those responsible acted according to their own agenda, reported PTI.
Meanwhile, the opposition BJP slammed the Congress government saying the Sukhu dispensation is not concerned about the development of the state but its only concern seems to be the “Chief Minister’s Samosa”.
The row began when three boxes of refreshments were brought from Shimla’s Hotel Radisson Blue in Lakkar Bazaar to be served to the chief minister who had gone to the CID headquarters to attend a function. However, the boxes were served to the CM security staff, according to the enquiry report conducted by a deputy SP rank officer.
According to the report, an IG rank officer had asked a sub-inspector of police to arrange eatables from the hotel for the CM’s visit. The SI in turn instructed an Assistant SI and a head constable to bring the same.
The two policemen fetched the refreshments from the hotel in three sealed boxes and informed the SI.
The police officers when asked by the staff on duty from the tourism department whether the snacks were to be served to the chief minister, they said they were not included in the menu, the report stated further.
The three policemen who were tasked with arranging the snacks from the hotel were aware that the three boxes were for Sukhu.
The refreshments were handed over to a lady inspector who sent the refreshments to the mechanical transport (MT) section, which deals with refreshments, without asking any senior officer,
The refreshment boxes exchanged several hands in the process.
The CID official in his note said that all the persons named in the enquiry report have acted in an anti-CID and anti-government manner due to which the items could not be served to the VVIPs.
The opposition BJP slammed the Congress dispensation. “This incident has become a topic of discussion in the political circles of Himachal Pradesh,” said BJP chief spokesperson Randhir Sharma. The government machinery is embarrassed due to such coordination problems in a programme related to a VVIP like the chief minister,” he added.
Speaking on the entire issue, Sukhu said the CID got involved on the issue of “misbehaviour” but the media are running news about samosa.