HP govt didn't fight Dharamsala's case strongly in court: BJP

After Himachal High Court quashed the inclusion of Dharamsala in Smart City mission, BJP has blamed the Congress-led state government for not representing the popular hill station's case strongly in court.
Senior BJP leader and former industry minister Kishan Kapoor laid the blame on Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma, local MLA, for the setback caused to Dharamsala's hopes to become a Smart City.
"Both the Congress leaders are busy in travelling between Shimla and Delhi to save their skin in CBI and ED cases pending against Virbhadra in different courts and paid little attention to the case in High Court regarding Dharamsala's Smart City status," Kapoor said.

He said that Narendra Modi-led Centre had given green signal to Dharamsala but Congress-led Himachal government was not able to affirm their claim in the High Court.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court had yesterday quashed Dharamsala's inclusion under the Smart City Mission on a petition filed by Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan against Dharamsala's selection over the state capital.
After the Union Urban Development Ministry had in August declared Dharamsala as one of the 98 cities selected to be developed under the Smart City project, a political war of words began over Shimla's omission.

Founded by the British, Dharamsala had first caught attention of international community after Tibetan spiritual leaderDalai Lamaestablished the Tibetan government-in-exile here in 1960.

Construction of cricket stadium surrounded by snow-covered Dhauladahar ranges further added to its popularity.
Meanwhile, local Congress leaders from Dharamsala said they will approach the Supreme Court after getting a copy of the High Court order. They contended that the facts and figures of Dharamshala which were submitted to the Centre are true and better than that of Shimla.