Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh paid floral tributes to Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as 'Punjab Kesari', on his 87th death anniversary.
The CM paid tribute at the statue of Lala Lajpat Rai at Scandal point, which has been renamed as 'Lala Lajpat Rai' Chowk.
Earlier, the statue was installed in Pakistan's Lahore district, but later brought to Shimla after independence and put up at the Scandal Point.
Singh said that besides being a great nationalist, Lala Ji steered the independence struggle and promoted Swadeshi movement.
Lajpat Rai, who led the silent march to protests against Simon Commission, was injuredin lathicharge by the British police in Lahore and later succumbed to his injuries.
Interacting with the mediapersons later in the day, Chief Minister criticized the remarks of BJP on Dalai Lama.
He said that the Tibetan Spiritual leader was a world renowned personality and an apostle of peace, who was known for his kind-heart and spiritual philosophy throughout the world and we are blessed that he was staying in Himachal Pradesh.
