REACTION: Vir Bhadra Singh expresses anguish over assassination of two Indian soldiers at Poonch

Dharamsala, January 9, 2013: The Himachal Pradesh chief minister, Virbhadra Singh has said the state government would seek opinion of various employees unions before taking decision of reviving Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, till date different views are coming on this subject.

Speaking to the media persons at Tapovan Dharamsala on Wednesday, he added, the Administrative Tribunals were closed down by the Dhumal government and the cases were shifted to High court.

It may be mentioned here that re-establishing these tribunals was the main promise of congress made during election campaign last year. In previous Congress government these courts were available to employees at Dharamsala, Mandi and Shimla.  

Replying to a question, Virbhadra Singh said that it was the decision of previous Congress Government to construct Vidhan Sabha complex at Dharamshala. He said that this decision was taken to emotionally integrate the people of the state and everyone could feel that they were the part and parcel of governance. He said that Vidhan Sabha complex helps in accelerating the pace of development of many areas besides solving administrative and other problems of the people.

Replying to another question, he said that Congress Government had granted permission for setting up the Central University in Kangra district and due to unavailability of adequate land at Dharamsala, two complexes one each at Dharamsala and Dehra were being constructed. He said that previous BJP Government  did not provide land at single place in Dharamsala to political considerations and to give weightage to then CM’s son, whose parliamentary area falls in Dehra. He said that though construction work at both places had been started but still efforts would be made to construct larger part of University at one place.

Expressing  deep anguish over the assassination of two Indian soldiers at Poonch on  Indo-Pak border, he said that it was an inhuman activity and such treatment was also meted out with  Captain Saurav Kalia of Himachal Pradesh by Pakistani soldiers which is condemnable. He said that it was violation of International laws and Government of India had also protested against it. He said that though there was not much tension on  Chamba and Jammu Borders but the state government would write a letter to Union Defence Minister to demand that Central Forces should remain deployed there for maintaining the peace.

The chief minister said , “Deputy Speaker of Vidhan Sabha would be elected from Congress legislators. When Prem Kumar Dhumal became Chief Minister for the first time, then Leader of Congress Legislative Party was not given status of Opposition leader. BJP had not encouraged healthy practice and they should not expect this from the Congress party now.”

Replying to another question, Chief Minister said the Departments to Chief Parliamentary Secretaries would be allotted after Vidhan Sabha Session and Cabinet would be expanded near next Budget session of Vidhan Sabha.

Virbhadra Singh clarified that officers who have acted on malafide  intensions  and framed many forged cases against Congress supporters during BJP regime would be dealt as per laws.