The historical Ridge is all set to be the venue of first rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Shimla.
State BJP has made it clear that the party was keen to hold the rally at the Ridge, the most sought after hill top in the erstwhile capital of British India.
Keeping aside concerns raised by the Shimla Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar, party spokesperson Rajiv Bindal on Saturday said that the historical Ridge was the appropriate place for the Shankh Naad (Blow Conch) rally of the party to be addressed by the Prime Minister.
The Ridge has a seating capacity of around 18 thousand people.
Bindal said that the rally is going to be the second rally of Prime Minister Modi in Himachal Pradesh, and PM would also re-launch the Shimla Airport after addressing the rally at The Ridge.
Just two days ago, Shimla Deputy Mayor, Panwar, in a communiqué to Prime Minister had requested him to get the venue of his rally shifted to some other place from the Ridge. Citing ecology and conservation of the Ridge as a reason, Panwar had said that the congregation of large number of people at Ridge was not fine for the vulnerable nature of this hilltop.
Bindal said that the state unit has decided to show its commitment towards the Swachchh Bharat Abhiyaan launched by Prime Minister Modi and a three day long sanitation drive would be launched before Prime Minister’s visit to Shimla.
While BJP leaders are claiming of gathering lacs of people in the rally of Prime Minister from across the state, it would be interesting to see, how the party leadership accommodates such a huge gathering on the rally venue.
Bindal said that the party has devised a unique cleanliness programme to boost cleanliness in the city. As per the program, party workers would visit door to door as Sweeping Ambassador and extend them invite for the rally.
Bindal said that Shimla would glow with party flags to welcome the Prime Minister Narendra Modi