Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) says the Special Adviser to the National Environment Commission, Dasho Paljor J. Dorji, popularly known as Dasho Benji, is overtly political.
In their rebuttal statement to the Thimphu District Court, today, DPT said defaming the party, for Dasho Benji, was the most convenient way to prove his political loyalty to a party that matters to him.
DPT had filed a libel lawsuit against Dasho Benji, in September this year, accusing him of posting a “defamatory” statement against DPT on Facebook.
Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s representative submitted to the court that Dasho Benji’s entire line of defense reads like a statement from campaign speeches of a political party. On the other hand, the representative said, Dasho Benji pretends he has no affiliation to any political parties.
DPT’s representative also said Dasho Benji has deliberately sought to bring damage and disrepute to DPT because of personal reasons.
He said Dasho had demanded pay hike and a new car to the cabinet of the then government. The representative said the demand did not come through for which Dasho Benji felt he was wronged and took to defaming DPT.
The representative also said Dasho Benji did not apologise even though the party made it explicit, through mutual contacts and messages, that apology was what they were seeking.
The baseless accusation has created widespread suspicion that DPT was never a party with integrity, according to the representative. The submission also says the accusation has led to the sense of distrust among the public and party members.
Today’s submission also included rebuttal against other accusations, such as willful defiance of the rule of law, policy corruption, usurpation of the Royal Prerogatives and mismanagement of economy, among others.