Secretariat not to be shifted to Dharamsala: CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the Secretariat would not be shifted to Dharamsala, the second state capital, and accused the BJP of "misleading" the people in this regard.
Replying to a query during the debate on the 2017-18 budget, Singh also made it clear that no employee would be transferred to Dharamsala and accused the BJP of playing "regional" politics.
He said new buildings would be constructed in Dharamsala and added that several offices, set up by the Congress government, were already functioning there.
Refuting the BJP's allegation that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the MLAs priorities schemes had not been prepared, Singh said most of the DPRs were ready and being sent for funding.

He claimed that following the abolition of the Planning Commission by the NDA government at the Centre, Himachal was suffering a loss of Rs 1,000 crore every year and asserted that his government had raised loans within the permissible limits after obtaining the Centre's approval.
Singh said hike in salaries and pensions of government employees had increased the state's revenue expenditure.

He said Rs 150 crore have been provided towards unemployment allowance.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the reply, Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal staged a walkout from the House while the chief minister was speaking and the other BJP members followed him.

Dhumal alleged that the government's announcements to open Gau Sadans (cattle shelters) and medical colleges were proved to be "hollow".
The chief minister on the other hand claimed that Dhumal's walkout was "pre-meditated" as the opposition was not ready to listen to his reply which was "based on facts".