BJP exploiting regional sentiments of people, says CM

Shimla, Dec 4 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today accused the BJP of exploiting the regional sentiments of the people in a bid to grab power.

Addressing public meetings at different places in Bilaspur district, he said the BJP was resorting to dividing the state on region, power, caste and religion to get a few more votes in the elections, which are to be held on December 19.

Mr Singh said instead of taking steps for the emotional integration of the state, it had been raising the issues of discrimination with certain regions and casteism every time elections were held in the state.

The BJP had never in the past nor in the future would safeguard the interests of the common man, he said.

He said while the Congress was for the balanced and uniform development of the state, besides emotional integration of the merged areas, the BJP was always raising issues not concerned with the common man.

Crediting the Congress Government for creating northern and central zones at Dharamshala and Mandi, he said this was providing administrative facilities to the people of these areas near their homes.

Referring to the Rs 100-crore food subsidy being provided in the state, the chief minister said this model was being replicated by the neighbouring state governments to provide cheap rations to their people.

He said besides providing cheap rations, the scheme was successful in checking the prices of essential commodities and prevent black marketeers from hoarding food items.

Mr Singh said funds were never a constraint for the development during the Congress governments tenure and large sums of money were released for developmental projects.

He called upon the electorate to vote for the Congress in the ensuing elections to maintain continuity in development and social welfare of the common people.

UNI