In a move that underscores the legacy of Himachal Pradesh’s one of the tallest political figure, the unveiling ceremony of a statue of the six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh at the iconic Ridge in Shimla has been rescheduled to July 15. The event, originally planned for June 23 to coincide with Virbhadra Singh’s 91st birth anniversary, has been deferred following a request from the Congress high command in Delhi.
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, son of the late leader and chairman of the Raja Virbhadra Singh Foundation, announced the new date on Sunday, confirming that the decision was taken to accommodate senior Congress leaders who expressed their desire to attend the ceremony.
“Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajni Patil have all shown keen interest in participating in the unveiling. However, due to pre-scheduled commitments, they requested the date be shifted. Respecting their sentiments, we have decided to hold this historic event on July 15,” said Vikramaditya Singh.
He emphasized that the event would be conducted as a government function, rising above political boundaries. “We are extending invitations to all, including senior BJP leaders such as Union Minister JP Nadda, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, and all BJP MLAs. Everyone should come to the Ridge and be part of this momentous occasion,” he said.
The statue, which has been completed and has arrived in Shimla, will be installed at Daulat Singh Park on the Ridge, close to the statue of Himachal’s first Chief Minister Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar. The location holds symbolic value, as both leaders played foundational roles in shaping modern Himachal Pradesh.
Describing the event as more than a ceremonial unveiling, Vikramaditya said: “On this day, while we pay homage to the architect of modern Himachal, we will also collectively envision a new Himachal — one rooted in inclusive development and people-centric governance.”
The announcement follows a series of significant developments over the past year. In February 2023, during a phase of political instability when six Congress MLAs cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha elections, Vikramaditya had publicly threatened to resign from the Cabinet over the state government’s failure to allocate a suitable space for his father’s statue. The issue was later resolved, with the government assuring support and the district administration identifying a prominent location on the Ridge.
On Sunday, Vikramaditya also chaired a meeting of the Raja Virbhadra Singh Foundation at the historic Peterhoff, where detailed preparations were discussed to ensure the unveiling becomes a landmark event in the state’s political and cultural calendar.
He also informed that on June 24, a ‘chaturvarshik shraddh’ (fourth death anniversary ritual) of Virbhadra Singh will be held at their ancestral residence in Rampur Bushahr. “We invite people from across Himachal to join us in paying tributes to Raja Sahib, not just as a leader, but as someone who embodied the soul of this hill state,” Vikramaditya said.
The upcoming July 15 event is likely to be the largest political gathering in Shimla in recent years, bringing together leaders across party lines, civil society representatives, and thousands of citizens to honour a man who dominated Himachal Pradesh politics for nearly five decades. Virbhadra Singh, fondly remembered as ‘Raja Sahib’, served as Chief Minister six times and was also a Union Minister in various Congress-led central governments.