Dharamshala: In a historic decision, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh today declared Dharamshala the second capital of Himachal Pradesh.
Camping at Dharamshala these days during the second week of his annual winter sojourn, Singh said that Dharamshala had a significance and history of its own and fully deserved to be the second capital of the state.
He said that Dharamshala held a special importance and value to the lower areas of Himachal Pradesh including Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur and Una districts. The people of these areas would now be benefitted of this special status and they would not have to travel to longer distance for their works.
The Chief Minister said that Dharamshala was already marked prominently not only in the map of India but of the world due to its significance owing to many reasons including religious, natural and adventurous tourism. He said that Dharamshala was the home of His Highness, the Dalai Lama and attracted the people across the world. Prominent personalities of the world visited this hilly town throughout the year.
Dharamshala, situated in the snow-capped majestic and mighty Dhauladhar range, already hosting Winter Session of HP Vidhan Sabha since December, 2005, and till now it has hosted 12 Winter Sessions of HP Vidhan Sabha so for.
However, opposition BJP has accused Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for making false promises. BJP leader Ganesh Dutt claimed that the BJP had in 1998 recognized Dharamshala as winter capital of the state to address the public grievances through winter sojourn. However, the Congress led Govt has defeated the purpose.
Dutt claimed the Congress is habitual of playing a game of regionalism and its policies and programs changes with the seasons and political opportunities.
Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal also blamed Virbhadra Singh for making false promises. He said that Congress led state government has failed to do anything in the past years of reign and now in the poll year making bogus promises to gain politically.
Agriculture Minister Sujan Singh Pathania, Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmauri, Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Neeraj Bharti, Jag Jeevan Pal and I.D. Lakhan Pal, MLAs of the Congress Party and other leaders have welcomed the decision and would facilitate the people to a large extent and would usher a new era of progress and prosperity.
They said it was a historic step for which the people of the region would always remain indebted towards Virbhadra Singh.
They added that the main spirit behind the proposal was the deep love of Virbhadra Singh towards the people of the region and his vision for equitable development of all areas besides ensuring emotional integration of the entire state.
Justifying the decision to make Dharamshala as second capital of the State, they said it was not only the district headquarter of Dharamshala but also a centre place for the adjoining Chamba, Hamirpur and Una districts. The decision would directly benefit the people of these districts and it would also facilitate in redressing their issue with ease.
