Government to take up One Rank One Pension issue with the Centre: CM

5 Dariya News

Una 16-Feb-2014

Virbhadra Singh said that he was proud of the brave soldiers of Himachal Pradesh who had sacrificed their lives while protecting the National and International boundaries. He said that the soldiers of the State had been decorated with highest military honours  and Himachal  is proud of its valiant soldiers who had received various medals including highest honour as Param Vir Chakras and Vir Chakras. The Chief Minister was addressing a massive public meet at Rajeev Gandhi Stadium at Dulehar in Una district today.He said the he will pursue the demand of the Ex-servicemen of the State for ‘One-Rank One Pension’. We have enhanced the Samman Rashis of Ex-servicemen and providing every benefits to their dependants. He said that the Government will soon take up their demands with the Government of India and Congress High Command at New Delhi. He said that he supports this genuine demand of the ex-servicemen fully and will take up the issue in effective manner. 

The Chief Minister said that his Government was committed for welfare of every section of the society irrespective of region and religion. Speaking on corruption, the Chief Minister said that his Government has adopted zero-tolerance towards corruption. He said that his Government would not tolerate corruption at any cost and appropriate action would be taken against those involved in it. He said that BJP Government made corruption its culture and cheated the people of the State.He said that the 13th Finance Commission grossly underestimated the committed liabilities of the state which has adversely affected the development process in the State. The expenditure on salary was capped at 35% of the revenue expenditure net of interest payments and pensions which was totally unrealistic. Due to these assumptions, the annual increase in salary liability assumed by the 13th FC comes to only 2% whereas the DA itself is more than 15% per annum. State of Himachal Pradesh has not got fair treatment.  

While the Commission recommended an average increase of 126% to other States compared to 12th Finance Commission, the increase in case of Himachal Pradesh was only 50%, which was the lowest in the country.  Had Himachal got an equal treatment comparable with overall increase of 126% for the country as a whole, we would have received an additional fund transfer of Rupees 10,725 Crore over a period of five years between 2010 and 2015. He said that we  projected all our liabilities and financial position effectively to the 14th Finance Commission and we are hopeful that the Commission will appreciate the developmental needs of the State in right perspective. He said that despite financial restraints he would assure that the development process doesn’t suffer. He said that Himachal would be a fully developed State when all the villages and households gets adequate water, are connected with roads, better health facilities for the people and our Government was working earnestly in this direction. Congress party believes in service rather than lip service, added he.He said that the Gujarat Chief Minister, Shri Narinder Modi has come to Himachal Pradesh and I welcome him to the State. The BJP from last one month was preparing for his rally but to dismay of the BJP leadership it turned out to be a dull affair. He said that it has been reported that many persons in the Sujanpur rally were brought from the neighbouring States.

The Chief Minister was accorded a very warm welcome en-route till Dulehar. He counted the foundation stones worth Rs 300 crore laid by him today. He said that the development is a continuous process and my efforts are to make development process percolate in every nook and corner of the State. He said that we have opened and upgraded as many as 300 schools. Around 15 degree colleges have been opened in the State. Roads are our priorities and we will ensure that every village is connected with roads. Shri Virbhadra Singh announced opening of SDM office at Haroli and Sujanpur Tihra in district Hamirpur.

He also announced to upgrade Primary Health Centre Dulehar to Community Health Centre, opening of electric sub-pision at Khad in Haroli, Medical College in Private sector in Haroli, OBC Bhawan at Pandoga, School building at Dulehar. He announced upgradation of GHS Kuthar beet to Senior Secondary school. GHS Butkalan to SSS and middle school Bhadouri to High School.Speaking on the occasion, Transport Minister Shri G.S Bali said that Chief Minister has assured equal development in all regions of the State. He counted various development projects both in Una and Kangra district and said that Shri Mukesh Agnihotri has been more instrumental in getting development works worth crores of rupees in Una district and particularly in his constituency. He directed the authorities to construct the Bus Stand at Dulehar and ITI building at Pubowal within two to three years respectively.

Bali took a dig at the BJP for stopping the work of the Macleod ganj Bus Stand in Kangra. He said that BJP was reported involved in irregularities in constructing   Mandi bus stand. He said that Congress fights on agendas and for welfare of the people. He counted development projects given by Chief Minister in his constituency.  The Minister also made a scathing attack on BJP and its policies. He said that today Modi is talking about sacrifices of soldiers on the borders, but he should well realize that Himachal is a State of valiant soldiers and we know well as how to protect our boundaries and  and work for them and welfare of their families.Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries Minister, while addressing the people at his home turf and in his mother tongue, thanked the Chief Minister for sanctioning  development projects worth crores in Una district. He said that he was a loyal soldier of Virbhadra’s army. Referring to the Chief Minister, he said that Shri Virbhadra Singh  is an apostle of love and forgiveness. He said that Shri Virbhadra Singh has a long experience of 52 years in Politics and is a true warrior besides being good to his loyalists and harsh towards his opponents.

He said that the BJP leaders are trying their best to defame a man of clean image like Shri Virbhadra Singh. Whenever BJP come to power they resorted to mudslinging at Shri Virbhadra Singh. He said that Chief Minister always came out clean of all blames and charges,  which the BJP leveled against him. 

He said that crores of rupees were being given to the poor and the needy from CM relief Fund. There is no dearth of money in his coffers, said he. Besides,  giving Rs 922.48 crore for Swan river channelization and its tributaries.  He said that Rs 122 crore IIIT was given by him, crores were being spent on all the roads in Una district.  He said the Sujanpur rally was given much hype by the BJP but as per reports it has not been able to attract gathering as claimed by BJP leaders. Kuldeep Kumar, Chairman, State Finance Commission congratulated Shri Mukesh Agnihotri for successfully organizing this rally and said that Modi stature does not match that of Shri Virbhadra Singh. Modi has just become Chief Minister of the State for three times which was being exaggerated by the BJP in the State and elsewhere  whereas Sh. Virbhadra Singh on the basis of his clean image and the overall development he has ensured, has become Chief Minister of the State for the record sixth time.Shri Vikramaditya Singh, President State Youth Congress while addressing the huge gathering said that Shri Mukesh Agnihotri has been instrumental in developing every part of district Una. He exhorted the youth to actively get ready for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and solidify the party. Speaking on the Skill Development Allowance, he said that on his request, the Chief Minister and Industries Minister reduced the age of beneficiaries from 18 to 16 years and other eligibility criteria. He said that illegal   possession of the prime land by Himachal Pradesh Cricket Associations, has been a glaring example of BJP functioning.

Shri Rajinder Rana, MLA from Sujanpur Constituency of Hamirpur district said that it was unfortunate on the part of BJP leaders who were collecting money and seeking donations from the general public for Narinder Modi’s show at Sujanpur today. “I believe in serving the people of the State, to serve people of Himachal Pradesh and ensure their welfare is my priority and sole agenda” said he. The congress believes in giving to the people and not taking away from them. “I came in Politics to serve the people and not to do business as the BJP leaders were doing”, said he. The BJP leaders were compelling people to contribute for Modi’s rally, harassing them of the dire consequences if they don’t contribute willfully and abstain from the rally at Sujanpur. He said that as per reports there was hardly any gathering in the rally of the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate at Sujanpur.Shri Virendar Dharmani, President, District Congress Committee while welcoming the Chief Minister said that district Una has emerged as a role model of Development within one year of the rule of the present Government. Shri Onkar Sharma, Former Vice chairman of Agro Packaging Industries Ltd welcomed the Chief Minister and lauded his efforts for ensuring overall development of the State.Shri Ranjit Rana, President Haroli Block Congress Committee welcomed the Chief Minister. Earlier, Industries Minister and Smt. Simi Agnihotri honoured the Chief Minister, Transport Minister, Shri G. S. Bali, all MLAs, and other dignitaries present on the occasion.