Regional
Virbhadra denies using 'foul' language against EC

Shimla (PTI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday denied having made any "derogatory or uncalled for" comments against the Election Commission during the election meeting he addressed in the tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti.

Spokesman of the PCC, Rathore told reporters that CM rang him to say and he had great regard and respect for all the constitutional bodies and the persons who heads them.

Incharge of the state BJP Satyapal Jain on Monday took strong objection to the CM's remarks against the EC as reported in local newspapers here and had sought to know from the prime minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi if they approved his comments that "EC is dancing to the tunes of BJP leader L K Advani".

Rathore said the screening committee of the PCC election committee would meet at Delhi on November 18 in which criteria for giving tickets on the 65 seats would be finalised. The list of nominees would be made public after 2-3 days.

Party would set up three media centres at Shimla, Mandi and Dharamsala which would start functioning from tomorrow, he said.

On the challenge thrown by cricketer-turned BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu to the CM for a debate on development of HP, Rathore said he is "too small a leader to make comments on a seasoned politician like Virbhadra Singh".

He said leaders of the NSUI could debate on any issue Sidhu wanted to speak.

Regional

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