Politics of freebies won’t work in Himachal Pradesh; uphill task for AAP: Jai Ram Thakur

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur effortlessly answered all questions posed to him. Some of the questions pertained to his career as a politician and others dealt with the emerging political situation in his home State which is heading for Assembly election later in the year.

The Chief Minister hailed the role of Panchjanya and Organiser, which are completing 75 years of their publication. He said that as the Nation commemorates 75 years of Independence, it is a matter of great pride for both the national weeklies.

The Chief Minister while highlighting the glorious journey of the weeklies, remembered Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay who was the founder of Panchjanya, and late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who became the first Editor of Panchjanaya in 1948 and under whose guidance these publications gained more recognition and achieved the highest standard of professionalism. The Organiser was started in 1947 as an English weekly.

Stressing the need to dig out the truth and highlight the issues related to the common man, the Chief Minister said the Panchjanya and Organiser always stood for the rights of the common man in its true perspective. Whatever may have been the circumstances; these two publications highlighted nationalism without any suppression and outside influence and trod on the path of truth and reality.

“In the present era of social media and easy internet access, there is no scarcity of news but to cater the value-based news accompanied with factual information is the major challenge to the present media and I am proud that Panchjanya and Organiser weeklies have been doing this from last 75 years with zeal”, said Jai Ram Thakur. He also congratulated the media persons who were honoured during the occasion for the year 2021, for maintaining the highest standards of their professionalism in print, electronic and digital media and earning public faith through their work. He said that it is the foremost duty of journalists to highlight social issues in the right direction and provide or highlight the facts before the people.

The CM also appreciated the announcement of the Central Government to give subsidies up to Rs 200 per gas cylinder to benefit over 9 crore beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana. Around 1.37 lakh beneficiaries in Himachal would also be benefited by this, he added. The beneficiaries would receive a subsidy on up to 12 cylinders. He also welcomed the Union Government’s decision to bring down the price of petrol by Rs. 9.50 while that of diesel by Rs seven. He also welcomed the decision of fertiliser subsidy of Rs 1.10 lakh crore in addition to Rs 1.05 lakh crore earlier.

Responding to a question, Thakur said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has no future in the long run though they do propaganda to be in the news. Taking a jibe, the Chief Minister said that AAP has no future in hills, “Woh Pahad Nahin Chadh Payenge” (they won’t be able to climb steeply up the hills), Recently their (AAP) state unit was dissolved because of their lack of political vision for Himachal Pradesh said he, adding that the political scenario in Punjab was different and the people of Himachal Pradesh are not used to blame games as being played by AAP. He said that the State Government has achieved many milestones in the field of Health, Education and Social Service sectors. The State Government had launched Grihini Suvidha Yojna to benefit the poorest of the poor by providing them smoke-less Chullahas. The State Government has mulled providing every house with smokeless gas stoves. We have also launched Mukhya Mantri Swablamban Yojna for the youth aged between 18 to 45 years to encourage them for self-employment viz; the opening of restaurants, fitness centres, etc. there is a provision of providing 25 to 30 per cent subsidy up to the investment of rupees one crore for purchasing machinery and equipment for running the business. Under the scheme women aged between 18 to 50 years are being provided subsidies up to 35 per cent. The State Government has also launched Mukhya Mantri Shagun Yojna under which a sum of Rs. 31,000 was being provided as financial assistance to girls of BPL families, said the Chief Minister. Himachal is the first state to provide 50 per cent reservation to women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. In the field of health, the State Government launched Mukhya Mantri Sahara Yojna to benefit around 20,000 beneficiaries with serious ailments.