The Congress workers begin their proposed padyatra from Solan. AICC in charge for Himachal affairs Birender Singh, PCC president Kaul Singh Thakur take part in it and all 23 sitting MLAs from across the state, Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes, PCC office-bearers and members of various front organisations arrived Solan to participate in the padyatra.
While addressing the party workers, Birender said the padyatra is the beginning of congress campaign against the corruption. Birender target BJP led government for conspiring to sell the state’s prime land worth crores on very low prices. He said that large chunks of land had been given to private universities whose owners would close these after a few years and construct flats, which would be sold for crores. He said BJP leaders were acting like middlemen, who facilitated these land deals by relaxing the provisions of Section 118 of the HP Land Reforms and Tenancy Act. Poor farmers suffered as their interests were not protected by the land mafia who were operating fearlessly.
Whereas, ruling BJP call it a drama and State BJP Chief Khimi Ram said that Congress padyatra is a political gimmick and added that if the party was so concerned for the state, they should undertake a march to Delhi to get Himachal its due from the Centre, which had been discriminating with the hill state in all spheres.
