Congress MLA Asha points out discrepancies in Guv address

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 12

Congress MLA from Dalhousie Asha Kumari, while speaking on the motion of thanks on the address of Governor, pointed to glaring mistakes in the document.

She said that it was stated in the document that Jai Ram Thakur, aged 53, was the youngest CM of the state whereas the fact was that Himachal always had the tradition of having young CMs. The BJP government even forgot to mention the names of its own CMs who were younger to Jai Ram Thakur when they were sworn to the post. Shanta first became the CM at the age of 42 in 1977. Prem Kumar Dhumal was also 53 year old when he was first sworn in as CM in 1998. Virbhadra Singh also became the CM for the first time at the age of 49, she said.

She said that in the English translation of Governor’s address it has been stated that adventure tourism would be promoted in religious places. It seems that mind was not applied while drafting the Governor’s address.

Reacting to the opposition allegations that nothing was left in the CM relief fund by the previous government, Asha Kumari said the said fund was generated by each CM with his individual efforts. It was the right of the outgoing CM to exhaust it and the new CM should generate his own funds.

She said the BJP at the national level was “roll back, go back and follow” what the Congress government did. It had opposed the FDI in retail sector, MNREGA and Aadhaar while in opposition, but was now pushing for all the schemes.

Asha Kumari also requested Minister for Transport Govind Singh Thakur to do something to bring buses under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) back on road.

Ram Lal Thakur, Congress MLA from Naina Devi, said the Congress was responsible for most of the development in the state. It was the Congress that created Himachal in 1971. At that time the Congress government gave almost 100 per cent grant in aid to state.

He said after winning the elections, the CM visited various parts of the state and was welcomed by party cadre and officers. The expenditure on those functions was also wastage of public funds, he said.

Intervening in the debate, the Chief Minister said. “I am going around the state on official tours and party workers and government workers had every right to come for welcome. I am CM of the entire state and even of the government officials”.