Virbhadra Singh not weak CM, say Ministers

Shimla, Dec 16 (UNI) Two ministers in the Himachal Pradesh Government today criticised former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for terming Mr Virbhadra Singh a weak chief minister and said the remarks were ''uncalled for and derogatory''.

''Mr Dhumal's statement against a person who has been the state's chief minister for a record five times was derogatory and uncalled for,'' Excise and Taxation Minister Rangila Ram Rao and Animal Husbandry Minister Harsh Mahajan said in a joint press release here.

They said the remarks by a person who became Himachal's chief minister by default and ran the most weakest and unstable government ever would not be tolerated.

Asserting that the Virbhadra Singh Government shared very good relationship with the Centre, they said it was only because of this it was granted Rs 4,400 crore special package.

They said the state government was also successful in extending the central industrial package to March 31, 2010 from March 31, 2007 besides being provided Rs 1,355 crore for the construction of an all weather Manali-Leh road in the state.

Ridiculing the BJP's demand for dissolving the present assembly, they said the party that was unable to select a leader to lead it in the state should not comment on others.

Mr Rao and Mr Mahajan lauded the Himachal's progress in education, health and social welfare and said the state had emerged as a model of development for other states of the country.

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