Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, July 2
Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh has strongly denied allegations of assaulting a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official, stating that an FIR alone does not establish guilt. Anirudh Singh, facing political heat after the registration of a police case, claimed he had not assaulted anyone and instead turned the spotlight on what he described as widespread corruption and negligence within NHAI. “NHAI is the most corrupt department in the country. There is a clear nexus between contractors and NHAI officials in ongoing national highway and four-lane projects,” he alleged while addressing press conference in Shimla on Wednesday.
He accused the agency of engaging in “unscientific and dangerous construction practices” which he said were leading to severe loss of life and property across Himachal Pradesh. “From Parwanoo to Shimla, they are doing 125-foot deep cuttings, but the retaining walls are only 8 to 10 feet high. What kind of engineering is this?” he questioned. The minister also targeted Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, saying that “sitting in Delhi and issuing statements without knowing the ground reality” was not helpful. He announced that he would soon meet Gadkari to demand a high-level inquiry into NHAI’s operations in the state.
“Every year, people are dying, homes are collapsing, and NHAI just keeps its eyes shut while offering compensation. Who will be held accountable for the lives lost?” he asked. He further criticised government departments for shuffling files while affected citizens are left with nothing. “Who will speak for the people who have lost everything due to poor construction practices?” he asked. He insisted that the real issue was not about an assault allegation but about the structural failures caused by what he termed as NHAI’s “criminal negligence.”
