Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, November 19
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, state Congress president Pratibha Singh, ministers Anirudh Singh and Dhaniram Shandil, along with several MLAs and dignitaries, paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary at the Ridge in Shimla on Wednesday. They laid flowers at her statue and remembered her as a leader whose courage, resolve and foresight shaped Indian politics.
Speaking at the event, Mr Sukhu said that few leaders in India’s history had displayed the strength of will and leadership qualities that Indira Gandhi embodied. He described her as the first woman Prime Minister who firmly established India’s identity on the global stage.
He highlighted her strategic vision during the creation of Bangladesh, saying her decisive actions played a historic role. “Today’s Bangladesh stands as a result of her far-sighted thinking. She ensured India was not encircled by hostile forces,” he said. Calling her a source of inspiration for the Congress, he added that following the path she set out was a responsibility for the entire nation.
Responding to allegations made by the Leader of the Opposition on disaster management, Mr Sukhu said the government’s first duty during any crisis was to provide relief to affected people. He emphasised that assistance was being delivered continuously. Panchayat elections, he added, were a separate matter, while disaster relief remained the government’s top priority.
