“I have served the Congress for 55 long years and would lead from the front to ensure party victory in the forthcoming Assembly elections. I may or may not contest the election, but would stand by the party so that it makes it to the next Assembly”, said Chief Minister Virbharda Singh here today. When asked whether he would lead the party in the coming Assembly elections, the Chief Minister said that the Congress high command would consider the seniority. He said that the party ticket would be distributed on merit and winning ability.
Speaking on the demand of the Opposition about the imposition of President’s Rule or dissolving the Assembly he said that the government would complete its tenure and elections would be held as per schedule.Addressing a public meeting at Patlandar, the Chief Minister said that the party cadre would fight the propaganda of the BJP and work together for the party sincerely in view of the ensuing Assembly elections which were around the corner.
The BJP and the CPM tried to politicise the Kotkhai rape and murder case and created unrest in the state, Virbhadra said adding that one of the former BJP ministers was involved in creating scare among the people and action would certainly be taken against him.The Chief Minister said he would file a defamation suit against those who were trying to implicate him in the Kotkhai rape and murder case for leveling false allegations. He said that he had personally written a letter to the Prime Minister requesting him to hand over the case to the CBI.Virbhadra Singh said the Congress did not believe in mud-slinging and character assassination and these were the BJP leaders who had spoiled the political atmosphere of the state. He said a few unfortunate incidents had been reported, but that did not mean that the law and order had completely failed in the state. The BJP made a mountain out of a mole hill. The party was tightlipped on the Haryana mayhem.
Chief Parliamentary Secretary Inder Dutt Lakhan Pal, ex-MLA, Kuldeep Pathania, chairman Kangra Central Co-operative Bank Jagdish Sapheiya, chairman, ex-servicemen Corporation Col BC Lagwal, Chairman, vice-chairman Disaster Management Authority Rajinder Rana, APMC chairman Prem Kaushal, DCC president Naresh Thakur were present on the occasion.CM opens projects worth Rs35 cr in SujanpurChief Minister Virbhadra Singh dedicated development works worth Rs 35 crore in Sujanpur today. He inaugurated Rs 8.68 crore sewerage scheme for Sujanpur and Lift Water Supply Scheme (LWSS) at Patlander-Kashiri-Mahadev-Chamiana-Doohak-Chabootra worth Rs 12.15 crore. The scheme will benefit 40,000 residents.The CM also inaugurated augmentation of LWSS of Rs 81.87 lakh at Jhaniara-Bassi, primary health centre at Utpur built at a cost of Rs.89 lakh, Rs 97 lakh police post building at Bhawani in Taunidevi and a footbridge on Ghaon-da-Nallaha at Jhaniara worth Rs 55.50 lakh.
Virbhadra Singh also laid foundation stone of veterinary hospital building at Sujanpur. The building will be constructed at a cost Rs 58 lakh. He also laid the stone of town hall at Sujanpur worth Rs 3.46 crore, a bridge over Pung Khud on Khaih Thalkana road (Rs 2.23 crore) and 33 KV sub-station at Onsla worth Rs 7.55 crore.
Kotkhai case: Threatens defamation case
The Chief Minister said he would file a defamation suit against those who were trying to implicate him in the Kotkhai rape and murder case for leveling false allegations. He said that he had personally written a letter to the Prime Minister requesting him to hand over the case to the CBIVirbhadra Singh said that the forest clearance was awaited for the medical college in Hamirpur and enough land had been given by the state government for the AIIMS at Bilaspur as per the requirement of the Union Ministry of Health.
