Hailing the unprecedented and historic victory of BJP in the country, including Himachal Pradesh, former Himachal chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Saturday expressed confidence that a new era of development and prosperity would dawn in the hill State as soon as Modi takes the oath of Prime Minister.
Talking to The Pioneer, Dhumal said Modi would be the first Prime Minister in the history of India getting elevated from the State Chief Minister to the top post by virtue of his own gigantic efforts, merit and dynamic personality. “Only a person like Modi with a long unblemished political life could make India a world power. A decisive mandate would give him a free hand to execute his ambitious plans to lift India out of the mire of poverty, corruption, unemployment and scams,” he said.
He said with the coming of Modi in power there was a panic among the criminals, black marketers and those who were spreading communal venom in the country for flourishing their politics of hatred among the various casts and communities. “Modi has succeeded in breaking the barriers of casts and religion during these elections,” Dhumal added.
Dhumal said Atal Bihari Vajpayee had granted Himachal Pradesh a special economic package which the UPA Government withdrew, leaving the State in lurch. “It has sparked off widespread resentment in the State culminating in total rout of Congress from Himachal Pradesh in the general elections of 2014,” he said.
He lamented that Virbhadra Singh did nothing after coming to power except tormenting his detractors and political rivals. “His fascist and autocratic style of functioning had virtually ruined the State. He exhausted his energies in perpetrating atrocities on his opponents. He framed false cases against him and his sons forgetting that the atrocities he perpetrated would ultimately boomerang on him,” Dhumal added.
Dhumal said Modi called him on telephone and congratulated for giving all the four seats to BJP from Himachal Pradesh and added that Modi had a clear “concept and vision” to make Himachal one of the richest States of the country by harnessing its potential of hydel power generation, tourism and pollution free industries.
Dhumal, who had spearheaded the election campaign in the State by addressing over 200 rallies and public meetings across the State, did vigorous campaigning against Congress highlighting mega scams which rocked the country. His main thrust was that the Congress was promoting corruption and mega scams and patronising the scammers by not holding any inquiry into the scandals. Rather in some cases the scammers were rewarded with prized posts. All this shameless drama resulted in the rout of Congress in the elections, he said.