Congress govt has pushed Himachal 10 years back: Dhumal

Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Prem Kumar Dhumal today accused the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government in the state of pushing it 10 years back.

"Himachal was on top five years ago, but due to the Congress' misrule over the last five years, it has slipped to the 17th position (in the country) in terms of industrial growth. As regards law-and-order, it is rated among the worst states," he said in a statement.

"The Congress government has pushed the state 10 years back," Dhumal said, adding that it would be remembered as the worst regime Himachal had ever had and for the mafia raj.
 

The BJP leader alleged that the state government had failed to honour even 30 per cent of its poll promises and added that there was no section of the society which was not hurt by its "anti-people" policies.

The Virbhadra Singh government had turned the 'Dev Bhumi' to 'Aparadh Bhumi' (land of gods to land of crimes) by shielding the criminals and it was a matter of shame that the chief minister and some of his cabinet colleagues were facing corruption charges, he said.

Singh is facing money laundering charges and a disproportionate assets case.

Dhumal claimed that the Congress government had lost the trust of the people who, he said, would throw it out in the next state Assembly polls, due later this year.

He further claimed that the leaders of the ruling party were frustrated and demoralised as they had lost the trust of the people due to the unfulfilled poll promises, poor law- and-order situation and failure to properly utilise the central funds and implement the development projects.

Dhumal alleged that the central funds had lapsed due to the casual approach of the state government and thus, the state was deprived of the benefits.

The opposition leader thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Bilaspur and said it would prove to be a boon for the people of the region.

Hitting out at a section of Congress leaders for levelling "false" accusations against BJP leaders, Dhumal claimed that they would be "exposed" in the upcoming election and the saffron party would come to power in Himachal with a thumping majority.