Mid-term poll soon: Shanta Kumar

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 21

BJP MP from Kangra Shanta Kumar has said mid-term elections cand be held soon.

Addressing a press conference here today, Shanta Kumar said the way things were developing in the state, it seemed that mid-term elections could be held soon.

It was for the first time that Shanta had talked about the mid-term elections. Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, had always termed Shanta Kumar a political leader with principals. Shanta said he was out of the race for the CM.

Shanta said the criticism by Congress leaders, including Virbhadra Singh, of the Prime Minister’s rally was uncalled for. The leaders had been alleging that the NDA government had done nothing for Himachal which was far from reality.

The biggest incentive for horticulturists was the decision to force soft drink companies to use 5 per cent fruit juice in their product. The decision would increase the demand of fruits produced in Himachal. The companies were likely to procure second grade fruit from farmers that otherwise used to go waste. This was the historic decision taken by the Modi government and would be of great benefits to fruit growers, Shanta said.

The government was also carrying out a survey to convert Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line from narrow gauge to broad guage.

Shanta Kumar claimed that the Centre had approved a number of roads as the national highway. In Kangra district alone, national highway projects worth crores had been sanctioned. The only delay in executing these projects was on part of the state government.