Sedition episode unfortunate, Himachal CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Wednesday said he is pained to know about a sedition incident, wherein a few people issued an anti-national statement.

"I am pained to know about the Kugri-Sugnam sedition episode wherein a few disgruntled politicians, who were hand in glove with one or two media persons, prompted a few people of the panchayats to issue a statement, which was anti-national and uncalled for," he told reporters.

His reaction came on the Aug 25 incident in which police arrested two residents of the Pin Valley in Lahaul-Spiti district, some 420 km from here, for provoking the locals to make pro-China remarks as the central government had allegedly failed to address their grievances.

"If need be, suitable action will be taken against those who prompted and instigated others," the chief minister added.

Besides, he said there was no dearth of funds for the development of the remote areas in the state. The Pin Valley, which was on the left bank of the Spiti river, was well connected with roads and bridges, he added.

A steel bridge at Atargu, on the Spiti river, connects the Pin Valley to the main highway and the government had constructed roads till Mudh, the last village in the valley.

The chief minister said due to flood in the seasonal Kiri rivulet, between Atargu and Gulling, a small bridge was washed away, which would be soon reconstructed and the work on it would start in a day or two.

It would come up at a cost of Rs.1.63 lakh, he said.

Besides, a footbridge and a ropeway have been set up to transport the pea crop, which was the only crop cultivated by the people of the valley.

He said besides motorable roads, the Pin Valley has schools and health facilities and there was no shortage of funds for development of all tribal areas.

Chering Tobge, president of Kungri panchayat, and Lobsang Thondup, former president of the Sangam panchayat, who were arrested on sedition charges, are currently in judicial custody till Sep 10.