Himachal Pradesh Tourism and Transport Minister, G S Bali has been made to resign after a sting operation by a television news channel caught him dancing and partying with scantily clad girls during his birthday bash in the tourist resort of Dharamshala.
After the embarrassing episode which unfolded on the news channel throughout the night on Saturday and Sunday, an embarrassed Congress government was left with no option but to ask the minister to step down. Congress sources said that the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh asked Mr Bali, to resign, which he tendered immediately.
Mr Bali, however, said that it was a family gathering and that there was nothing obscene in the party. “The camera did not show my family members — wife, son, daughter and her husband, who were also present at the party”, he said, adding that it was a conspiracy to defame him.
The cameras caught Mr Bali dancing with the girls which, according to the channel were call-girls.
Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister P K Dhumal has demanded resignation of the Chief Minister and his entire cabinet after the episode.
Chief Minister Mr Singh, on Sunday, dubbed the incident as “one-off”, saying it would not have any impact on the functioning of his government. He said that Mr Bali had told him that the sting operation was motivated and the scenes of the birthday bash were selectively shown on TV. “However, keeping with the high traditions and values of the Congress, I had asked him to resign”, Mr Singh told reporters.
Known for his flamboyance and penchant for indulging in controversies, Mr Bali had reportedly summoned some dancers from Delhi at a luxury hotel in Dharamshala on the eve of his birthday, on July 26. The channel claimed that the birthday bash, which was attended by several senior level state government officials, went on from 10:30 pm to 4 in the morning.