BJP MP from Kangra and former Union Minister/ CM Himachal Shanta kumar desired that the recently built Vidhan Sabha Coplex located in Dharamshala should be handed over to Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) which is awaiting a permanent campus for over eight years. The complex was inaugurated on 25 december 2006 by Virbhadra Singh, than Chief Minister in dedication of 1st H.P. Vidhan Sabha Complex outside the State Capital at Tapovan near Dharamsala in district Kangra The Complex was constructed at a cost of Rs. 7 crore and is holding the Winter Sessions of the State Legislative Assembly till date .Shanta while addressing media at Dharamshala on Satureday said, “The complex was built spending Rs. 7-8 crores and such a huge structure lies unused for almost year. And another some of 1.5 to 2 crore is being spent for a period of just 4 days annually. This is criminal wastage of public money.” He added that this is the right time to rectify our mistake and the coplex should be haded over to CUHP.Terming second complex of Vidhan Sabha located in Dharamshala a “white elephant”, Kangra MP and former Union Minister Shanta kumar demanded state government to hand over it to Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) which is awaiting a permanent campus for over eight years.Shanta said, “the Central government is going to lay the foundation stone of CUHP at Dharamshala and Dehra in coming October /November, instead of it we should get it inaugurated, if the Vidhan Sabha complex is transferred to CUHP .”
The 83-year-old BJP leader pained to see that Indian democracy has not matured even after 70 years of independence and there is opposition in center and states just for sake of opposing everything.“It is happening everywhere, leaders are involved in politics of confrontation instead of cooperating with the government and there is opposition for the sake of opposition only. Our leaders need to introspect and change their attitude,” added Shanta.I am happy, he said, said that Jai Ram Thakur-led Himachal Pradesh government has taken a positive step by designating Congress leader Mukesh Agnihotri as Leader of Opposition (LOP) despite they lacking the required numbers.Shanta praised Himachal government to come out with some progressive changes in the tourism and power policy and Congress should play role of constructive opposition and not oppose it.Power and tourism are two important sectors contributing significantly to economy of the state.“Investor wanted to invest in the projects but policies were wrong,” said Shanta adding that tourism in Gujarat and Uttrakhand was thriving as they were providing four types of capital subsidy to investors whereas in Himachal its opposite and government starts charging them right from the beginning.
Now the government has made some positive steps specifically in tourism policy,” he said. Shanta while advising the opposition said that Congress should cooperate with government in implementing the refreshed policy and government should also take opposition into confidence.Welcoming government assertion that it wanted to set up a circuit bench of Himachal Pradesh High Court at Dharamshala, Shanta said now the state government clear the its necessity to High Court to consider the long pending demand of people and send a proposal to the Centre.On increasing instances of youth in Himachal involving in drugs and becoming addicts, the veteran leader said that law along could do nothing and society and parents should also take responsibility. He appreciated the move by the northern states to constitute a joint task force to check the menace.Shanta kumar while replying a question defended Centre on Rafale deal and said that the aircraft purchase stating government has already clarified things and no need is to constitute Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the deal as Congress is demanding.