BJP pursuing divisive politics: Himachal CM

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Press Trust of India Nahan (Himachal Pradesh)
Last Updated : Feb 22 2017 | 9:22 PM IST
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today attacked the BJP, accusing it of indulging in "divisive" politics for electoral gains and cautioned peopleto be vigilant against its designs.
"BJP habitually misrepresents and manipulates the facts and divide people along caste, region and communal lines when elections are around but the people of the state must see through its designs and give it a befitting reply," he said while addressing a rally after laying the foundation stone of for a dental college building atBharli, in remote Transgiri area of Sirmaur district.
Commenting on the queer, local "topi" politics involving the colour of traditional Himchali caps, the chief minister said, "I have many friends in state BJP who wear red Himachali cap and vote for Congress but it is the BJP which started the politics even on the colour of caps."
"That's why, I donned red cap while taking oath as chief minister" said Singh adding the BJP leaders indulged in petty politics even on wearing of caps tocreate a cultural divide.
Political observers explained people living in Chief Minister Singh's constituency and the surrounding areas generally wear green caps while the Kullu people traditionally don red ones.
But an impression has been created that people supporting the Congress wear green caps, they said.
The chief minister said he never made derogatory remarks nor criticised any individual but it was the BJP which started the unhealthy trend of targeting individuals and using intemperate language against its political rivals.
Singh also lashed out at the BJP for allegedly making false promises to mislead people and appealed to them to reject such parties pursuing divisive politics.
Singh said that the dental college, which will also have have residential accommodation for teachers, would be named as Government Degree College, Aanjbhoj.

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First Published: Feb 22 2017 | 9:22 PM IST

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