Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur was accorded a warm welcome by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on his maiden visit to Himachal Pradesh after his induction to the Union Cabinet as Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Sports & Youth Affairs, during a function organised by the District Shimla BJP at hotel Peterhof, here on Thursday evening. The Union Minister kick-started the five-day Jan Aashirwad Yatra in Himachal Pradesh.Speaking on the occasion, Jai Ram Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh was very fortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a major responsibility to Anurag Singh Thakur in the Union Ministry. With his support as Union Minister, the state would be immensely benefited in the matter of development and various issues raised by the state would be resolved at the earliest.He said that Narendra Modi had always been considerate towards the developmental demands and needs and aspirations of the people of this hilly state. He earlier honoured the state by giving the responsibility to the son of soil Jagat Prakash Nadda as the national BJP President, which was the biggest political party of the world. It was for the first time in the history of the state that it had been given such admiration and importance. He said that similarly, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also showered his special love and full support to the state.
Jai Ram Thakur said that under the visionary and strong leadership of Narendra Modi, India today had been able to make its special identity as a strong nation and was soon poised to become the world leader. It was the strong will power and vision of the Prime Minister that despite Covid-19 crisis, the country was coming out of this catastrophe.He said that the state government has launched various schemes for the welfare of women, youth, farmers, horticulturists, poor and downtrodden sections of the society. With the consistent efforts of the present state government, Himachal Pradesh had emerged as the front runner state in the country and was leading in various parameters of development. He said that despite tough times due to Corona pandemic, the state kept forging ahead on the path of progress and development. He thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jagat Prakash Nadda and Anurag Singh Thakur for their assistance in providing adequate equipments and oxygen plants to the state.While addressing the gathering, Anurag Singh Thakur thanked the Chief Minister and State Cabinet Ministers for according him warm welcome. He said it was an honour for him that he had been given responsibility to represent Himachal Pradesh as the Union Minister. He would make all-out efforts to keep up the honour of the state and come up to the expectations of its people.
The Union Minister congratulated the Chief Minister and the state government for starting various pioneering welfare schemes for upliftment of all sections of the society and speedy development of the state especially launching Himachal Grihini Suvidha and Himcare schemes to benefit those beneficiaries who could not avail the benefits of the Central schemes. He said it was a matter of pride that Himachal Pradesh had taken lead in Covid-19 vaccination drive. He urged the people of the state to give their full support to the state government for making Himachal as the model state of the country. Anurag Singh Thakur also thanked the Prime Minister for starting the Ayushmaan Bharat, the biggest schemes in the health sector and enhancing the health sector besides announcing special economic packages for the states to fight the Corona pandemic. He said that Aatamnirbhar Bharat, strengthening the defence sector, Jal Jeevan Mission etc. were amongst another major achievements of the Union government.Earlier, Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj and State BJP President Suresh Kashyap delivered the welcome addresses.Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania presented vote of thanks.Power Minister Sukhram Chaudhary, MLAs Balbir Verma and Kishori Lal, Mayor MC Shimla Satya Kaundal, State BJP Organising Secretary Pawan Rana, State BJP Vice President and in-charge of Jan Aashirwad Yatra Sanjeev Katwal, State BJP Mahamantri Trilok Jamwal, , Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of various Boards and Corporations and other senior BJP leaders were present on the occasion.