Sukhu, Jairam Thakur pay tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Shimla

Spread the news

Sukhu and Thakur recall Vajpayee’s legacy in Himachal Pradesh, while trading political barbs over Baba Ramdev’s corruption remarks and allegations of examination paper leaks.

Shimla, August 17

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and BJP leaders on Sunday paid tribute to former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary at his statue on the historic Ridge in Shimla.

BJP MLA Balbir Verma, Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan, former minister Suresh Bhardwaj and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Remembering Vajpayee, Thakur highlighted his contributions to politics, literature and nation-building. He said Vajpayee would continue to live in the hearts of millions of Indians, even though he is no longer among them.

Thakur said Vajpayee was a journalist, writer, poet, orator and popular leader who played a key role from the days of the Jana Sangh to the formation of the BJP and later as Prime Minister.

He also recalled Vajpayee’s decision to conduct the Pokhran nuclear tests despite international pressure. He credited him with the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, which helped connect rural areas through roads.

Thakur said around 23,500 km of the nearly 42,000 km of roads constructed in Himachal Pradesh have been built under the rural roads scheme. He added that Vajpayee considered Himachal his home and had a special affection for Manali.

Sukhu said Vajpayee had a special connection with Himachal Pradesh and often stayed in the state. He said the former Prime Minister believed in taking everyone along, a style of politics that is rarely seen today.

Meanwhile, responding to yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s statement alleging that 90 percent corruption exists in the country, Thakur said he did not believe the situation was as widespread as the figure Ramdev cited. However, he acknowledged that such a situation could exist in some states and said corruption must be eliminated.

Sukhu said that if Ramdev had made the statement, he must have done so based on some facts. He claimed that people involved in leaking and selling examination papers in Himachal Pradesh were still behind bars.

The Chief Minister said no examination paper had been leaked during the three-and-a-half years of his government and questioned why paper leaks occurred during the previous BJP government.

Sukhu alleged that papers related to police recruitment and the state selection commission had been sold during the BJP regime. He further claimed that paper leaks occurred when directions came from higher levels and said Ramdev should immediately launch a movement against corruption if he stood by his statement.