Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu rejected the ADR report on his assets and alleged a BJP conspiracy.

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday dismissed the Association for Democratic Reforms report, which named him the North India's richest chief minister, claiming it to be the BJP's conspiracy to tarnish his image.

"I purchased a plot 20 years ago for Rs 12 lakhs and constructed a house on it. Over the years, the property's value has appreciated and this same property is mentioned in the election affidavit," Sukhu, while interacting with the media here, said.

The latest report by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) -- a non-governmental organisation that works in electoral and political reforms -- analysing the assets of India's serving chief ministers revealed that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, with total assets worth Rs 7.81 crore, is the wealthiest in North India.

Accusing the BJP of hatching a conspiracy to tarnish his image by showing him as the richest chief minister in North India, he said a person can build property through hard work and honesty and he has been working hard for the past 40 years.

No new property has been added since I took over as the chief minister. Rather, the property has reduced and this will be reflected in the election affidavit during the next elections, he added.

"If the BJP doubts the property, they can get the information from the ED and CBI," he asserted, adding that an enquiry was conducted in this regard earlier also.

He also claimed that the ADR report presented incomplete information regarding his educational qualifications, omitting his MA and LLB degrees and said the information should be rectified.

Any Congress MLA wishing to join the BJP is free to do so, Sukhu said, adding that the party needs individuals committed to its ideology, not those who can be bought.

He claimed that BJP MLAs also frequently reach out seeking party tickets, but the Congress will not induct leaders associated with the BJP as it is related to "paper leaks and donation theft."

Supporting Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi's statement regarding the Education Minister, he said that the person holding this portfolio should be an educationist and possess a clean image, and ensure that incidents like paper leaks do not occur during their tenure.