Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced that government degree colleges would be opened at Bhalei and Telka in Dalhousie constituency of Chamba district. While addressing a public meeting at Thaakkrimatti in Salooni tehsil of the constituency, he said these colleges would be opened taking into consideration the strength of girl child in these far-off belts of Salooni tehsil.
With this announcement, the strength of the degree colleges in the state would go up to 121. Virbhadra also assured that the Salooni block would be designated as backward. Hailing the local MLA Asha Kumari, he said she was a farsighted leader and believed in serving the people.
The Chief Minister cautioned the people not to believe in false promises of the BJP as its leaders always believed in ‘divide and rule’. He said that today there were more Muslims in India than in Pakistan. They (BJP) had no right to criticise the people on the basis of region and caste. India was a secular state and will remain so, he said, adding that many sacrifices were made to gain Independence. People should not fall in the trap of a few handful people, whose actions could be detrimental for the nation.
“It was the modus operandi of the BJP to implicate me in false cases or openly criticise him whenever the elections to the state legislative Assembly were round the corner”, he said.
Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of a flagship Saloni-Manjeer-Sundal-Diur water supply scheme costing Rs 34.69 crore. The scheme will benefit 437 habitations of 21 panchayats. The panchayats to be benefited include Salooni, Singhadhaar, Bayana, Manjeer, Sundla, Pukhri, Kharal, Siula, Ligga,Thaakrimatti, Salwaan, Diur, Manjali, Daand, Lanot and seven others.
He also dedicated to the masses an ayurveda dispensary at Thaakrimatti near Bhalei Mata. Virbhadra Singh laid the foundation stone of science block of Government Senior Secondary School building Bhalei and a PWD rest house at Bhalei in tehsil Salooni. This will benefit the pilgrims visiting the temple. He also laid foundation stone of Community Health Centre at Baathri.Among others, Forest Minister TS Bharmouri, Dalhousie MLA Asha Kumari, HP State Pollution Control Board chairman Kuldeep Singh Pathania were also present on the occasion.
Source Tribune India
