BJP demands white paper on finances for maiden Mata Chintpurni Festival

Una district BJP president and former Chintpurni MLA Balbir Singh Chaudhary today demanded that the state government should release a white paper on the financial implications of the proposed three-day maiden Mata Chintpurni festival and the status of other pending works and issues at the shrine.

‘Works pending’

The government was giving great importance to the festival, but civil works for the development of the shrine and better facilities for tourists had been hanging fire for almost two years. — Balbir Singh Chaudhary, former MLA

The festival, which will include a colourful procession from the shrine to the Amb SDM office, besides sports events, exhibitions and cultural night, will begin on September 14.

In a press release, along with a recorded video message, the BJP leader demanded that the government should issue a white paper on the amount of funds earmarked for the festival along with the funds which have been “forcibly taken so far from local public, besides businessmen in the name of the festival”.

Balbir Chaudhary said the government was giving great importance to the festival, but civil works for the development of the shrine and better facilities for tourists had been hanging fire for almost two years.

He questioned the delay in initiating works on the ‘Charan Paduka’ building and the helipad announced by the Congress government. He said the road from the Kuneran, the nearest railway station from Mata Chintpurni shrine, was in a bad shape, needing immediate attention of the government.

Chaudhary said the “baridars” of the shrine had been demanding their share in the temple’s offerings, but their case was pending in files at the Shimla Secretariat. He asked when would the government follow the appointment norms for the members of the Chintpurni Temple Trust as ordered by the Himachal Pradesh High Court.