People to punish BJP, says CM

Shimla, May 18 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today criticized the BJP for seeking votes from the people when in its earlier avtar as ''Jansangh'' it had opposed the merger of hilly areas of Punjab with Himachal and observed ''Black Day'' after Himachal was granted statehood.

Addressing election meetings at Panol and Kandraur in Bilaspur district of the state, he said people of the state were aware of its malafied intentions and had kept them out of power for most of the time in the state.

Mr Singh said Congress party was the the oldest political party in the country and people had immense faith in it and would continue to reimpose faith in it during the SMC and Hamirpir Lok Sabha bypolls Himachal has witnessed uniform and balanced development in the past few years, he said.

He said several developmental activities has been established in the district by the successive Congress government of the state.

Rubbishing the BJP's allegations that lower areas of the state were discriminated against in development, he said his government was committed for the balanced and uniform development of every region.

UNI