Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Monday witnessed a sharp verbal duel between two of its senior most leaders, when Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh strongly reacted to the allegations of regionalism on the Congress Government by leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal.
The debate between the leaders of the State took place when Dhumal, addressing the house during discussion on the thanks giving motion on Governor's address, alleged ruling party of promoting regionalism.
Quoting excerpts from Malhotra Commission report submitted in 1990, Dhumal alleged that it was Virbhadra Singh, who promoted regionalism during Apple movement. He said that during the movement, 22 apple traders, hailing from Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi were asked to leave an apple producing constituency.
He said ,"Congress had adopted a biased approach against the areas, represented by the BJP legislators." Dhumal said that his constituency had suffered loss of HIMUDA office and IRB batallion, as they both were shifted out from the constituency after Congress took over the reins of the Government.
Reacting sharply to the allegation, CM Virbhadra Singh said, "Regionalism and Casteism were the ideology of BJP. He said BJP has tried to divide Himachal Pradesh in Upper Himachal, Middle Himachal or lower Himachal, but Congress has always taken the entire State equally."
Taking on Dhumal, the CM said, "Dhumal spreads poison of regionalism or Casteism, whenever he speaks." Himachal Pradesh was united and it will remain united, added Virbhadra.
Earlier, Dhumal termed the Governor’s address as far away from facts, saying that the address prepared by the Government was not based on factual figures. He said, the Governor has been made to read something else in the house, while the reality was quite far from the claims made in Governor’s address.
Tearing into ruling party's claims, Dhumal said that the Congress Government had made 317 promises in its manifesto, but the party did not bother even to touch the 200 promises made in manifesto.
Taking a dig at Virbhadra Singh, Dhumal said that the CM had rightly observed that the Congress manifesto was made by inexperienced people. As the claims of raising import duty on Apple three times, was completely misleading. As the former Minister Narendra Bragta, knew well that the duty could not be increased from 50 percent.
Expressing concern over rising drug trade in Himachal Pradesh, Dhumal said that SSP Chandigarh in his affidavit in Punjab and Haryana High Court had said that the higher regions like Manali, Kullu, Manikaran and Mandi of Himachal Pradesh had been the hub of contraband.
Dhumal also pulled Government on its promises like constituting State Agriculture Commission, Administrative Reforms Commission, Public Grievance Commission and Citizen Rights Charter etc. He said, CM had assured of fixing accountability of public authorities, but even the CM's office don't respond to the letters sent by people or the BJP legislators, who represent the people of their constituencies.
Taking on Government on huge vacancies in different departments, Dhumal said, Government was recruiting even policemen on contract. He said, back door entries in regular recruitment had become the routine of this Government. He said that the financial mismanagement has brought the Government to a situation, where it was not able to make regular appointments and the vacancies in Government had crossed a figure of 1.05 lac.
He even raised objection to the Apple seed imported from Italy, saying that the Yashwant Singh Parmar University in its report had found the apple seed to be diseased.
Refusing to support the Thanks giving motion, Dhumal said that he can't support Governor's address, which was based only on false claims.