Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday said that with the active participation and cooperation of the people, the State was heading on the path of progress and urged everyone to be united and persistent to make Himachal the best state of the country on various parameters of development.
Addressing a public meeting at Rohri in Pachhad Vidhan Sabha constituency of Sirmaur district on the occasion of Pragatisheel Himachal: Sthapna ke 75 Varsh programme to commemorate 75 years of the existence of Himachal Pradesh, he said that the credit for the development of the state goes to the hard work and dedication of every Himachali.
Thakur said that in the last 75 years, there has been an overall development of Himachal Pradesh in all spheres. He said that the State Government has ensured equitable and balanced development of the State during the last four and a half years, adding that the double engine government of the Center and the state would continue the pace of development in Himachal in future also.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has started many welfare schemes for the welfare of every section of the society and all-round development of every area of the State, pointing out that free gas connections have been provided to more than 3.32 lakh women in the state under Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna. He said that 125 units of electricity were being provided free of cost to domestic electricity consumers and free drinking water was being provided to the people of rural areas.
He had earlier laid the foundation stone of various developmental schemes worth Rs. 91.16 crore for Pachhad Assembly Constituency. He said that the BJP government was working towards socio-economic upliftment of weaker sections by staying close to the poor and downtrodden, urging the people to support not those who only talk but to those who prefer to bring development at the ground level in the upcoming assembly elections.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the exhibitions set up by various departments, boards and corporations based on the development journey of Himachal Pradesh on the occasion.
MPP and Power Minister Sukh Ram said that during the tenure of the present government, Sirmaur district has emerged as the Sirmour (head) of development in real sense. He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party government was ensuring equitable and balanced development of all the areas and benefits of various welfare schemes were being passed on to the targeted sections well in time.
MP Shimla Lok Sabha constituency and BJP State President Suresh Kashyap said that unprecedented development of Sirmaur district has been ensured during the tenure of the present government. He thanked the Chief Minister for accelerated development in the assembly constituency with inaccessible geographical conditions like Pachhad.
Momentous occasion to get bulk drug park in state, says CM
Presiding over the ‘Pragtisheel Himachal: Sathapna Ke 75 Varsh’ celebrations later in Doon Assembly segment, the chief minister performed inaugurations and foundation stones of 13 developmental projects worth about Rs. 26 in Solan district and announced opening of SDM (Civil) office at Baddi to facilitate the people of the area.
He said that to celebrate the glorious 75 years' developmental journey, the State Government has decided to organize 75 events in all the 68 constituencies of the State, adding that contributions of all the former Chief Ministers and general public were being remembered during these celebrations. He said that all these Chief Ministers have made immense contributions in the development of the State, but the real credit goes to the hardworking and honest people of the State.
Thakur said that Baddi area was today the biggest Pharma hub of Asia and credit of this also goes to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who announced an Industrial package for the State. He said that now the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned a Bulk Drug Park for the State which would be established in Una district, adding that it was indeed a momentous moment for Himachal to get this project of National importance, as it would ensure retention of pharma formulation units as well as create employment opportunities for many years in the State. He said that the estimated project cost of the park is about Rs 1200 crore, out of which Rs. 1000 crore would be funded by the Government of India for development of common infrastructure facilities.
The Chief Minister said that soon after assuming the office in 2017, the present State Government changed the tradition of politics of vengeance and vendetta. He said that earlier the State was even divided on the basis of the colour of the caps, but he changed this tradition and now the people must change the tradition of not repeating the Government. He said that now the people of the State have made up their minds to ensure that the BJP Government again comes to power in the coming elections.
He said that the Congress leaders were misleading the people of the State by making false promises with an eye on elections, adding that it was strange that the Party which doesn't have its own guarantee was giving ten guarantees to the people of the State. He said that the people of the country have completely rejected the Congress and now it was the turn of the people of the State to give them a befitting reply in the coming elections.