 "Virbhadra Singh snubs BJP leader's remark on Himachal's second capital")
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and two of his cabinet ministers today slammed senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar for his reported remarks that the HP government was not empowered to declare Dharamsala as the second capital.
"Shanta Kumar should know that Himachal Pradesh is a full-fledged state and all the powers to decide where to locate the capital, offices and to have a second capital. The statement of veteran BJP leader is ridiculous," Singh said.
Agriculture Minister Sujan Singh Pathania and Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma, both hailing from Kangra district also expressed surprise over the Kumar's statement while raising objections over the declaration of Dharamsala as the state's second capital.
In a joint press statement they said "It did not behove to a senior leader like Shanta Kumar to give such a politically motivated statement, not based on facts and the BJP leaders should clearly state that whether they were in favour or against making Dharamsala as second capital of the state."
They said had Kumar been the well wisher of Kangra, he should have appreciated the move in the interest of development of not only Kangra district but the entire state.
He was also presenting wrong figures regarding the allocation of funds for the development of Dharamshala as Smart City, they said.
A sum of Rs 2 crore had been given for making the proposal of Smart City and after submission of the proposal, the Union government selected Dharamshala under smart city mission and Rs 186 crore had been released as the Centre's share for the current financial year whereas the state government had also released its 10 per cent share.
They said that it was Virbhadra Singh government which constructed Vidhan Sabha complex at Dharamshala and took a historic step to start winter session there.
"The Congress government's motive behind this decision was to ensure that the administration reaches at the door-steps of the people of lower Himachal so that they do not have to rush to Shimla for petty works," the ministers said.
They claimed that the people of 30 assembly constituencies of four districts, especially the remotest district of Chamba, would be benefited with this decision.