Dhumal campaigns for Anurag in Hamirpur

Shimla, May 1 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said that the people of the state had shown the Congress party its ''actual ground'' after its promise to give employment to at least one member of each family ''proved hollow.'' He was addressing the election campaign launch meetings at Jandru, Khaira and Kjakkar in his home segment, Bamson in Hamirpur Parliamenary constituency in support of party nominee Anurag Thakur.

''The Congress failed to give employment even to 4000 persons during its full five year term whereas the BJP government has already decided to create and fill up 28,000 vacancies in different departments of the state during current financial year'', he said.

Mr Dhumal said that the BJP government in its earlier tenure had supplied wheat at Rs 2 and rice at Rs 3 per kg to weaker sections of the society under the dynamic and visonary leadershp of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The families which were unable to pay even that much were provided free rations upto ten kg and full control was maintained over the prices.

He said essential commodities had to be brought from outside the state to meet the domestic requirement and Rs 90 crore had been earmarked to subsidise the essential commodities during current financial year.

Previous Congress government had announced the subsidised rations scheme for the ration card holders without making any budgetary provisions and Rs 70 crore were released by the BJP government to clear the liabilities created by them, Mr Dhumal said.

Mr Dhumal said that he had nurtured the Hamirpur Parliamentary Segement to emerge as the model of development in all respect while he represented the same for three times.

Best efforts were made to facilitate the people of the area with all the basic amenities.

He appealed to the electors to vote in favour of Mr Thakur and make him victorious with massive margin.

UNI XC AS JN BP1955