Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today led the State in paying homage to the late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi on her 96th birth anniversary.The Chief Minister, Ministers and other prominent persons offered floral tributes at the statue of Smt. Gandhi at the historic Ridge of Shimla. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said Smt. Indira Gandhi had special love and affection towards Himachal Pradesh and its people. Himachal Pradesh came into existence on 15th April, 1948 few months after Independence due to blessings of first Prime Minister of the country Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Smt. Indira Gandhi bestowed full-fledged Statehood status to Himachal Pradesh on 25th January, 1971 amidst heavy snowfall at the Ridge Maidan. He said that Congress led Governments in the Centre had always given active support and assistance for the development of the Himachal Pradesh which today stands as one of the leading State of the Country. The State had made rapid progress in the education, health, electrification, drinking water, agriculture, horticulture and other major sectors.
Irrigation & Public Health Minister Smt. Vidya Stokes, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumers Affairs Minister Shri G.S. Bali, Forest Minister Shri Thakur Singh Bharmauri, Urban Development Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma, Social Justice & Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Shri Nand Lal, Vice-Chairman National Commission for Scheduled Tribe Shri Ravi Thakur, MLA Shri Sanjay Rattan, Vice-Chairman State Water Board Shri Harbhajan Singh Bhaji, Mayor Shri Sanjay Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Shri Tikendar Panwar, newly elected President of State Youth Congress Shri Vikramaditya Singh, Shimla District Rural Congress President Shri Kehar Singh Khachi, former Mayors Shri Sohan Lal and Smt. Jeni Prem, Chairman Agriculture Development Bank Shri Devi Singh Jistu, Councilors, Deputy Commissioner Shri Dinesh Malhotra, Commissioner MC Shri Amarjeet Singh, leaders, Senior Officers and prominent persons of town and children of various schools also paid tributes to Smt. Indira Gandhi.