Dhumal hits back at CM over ‘astrologer’ remark

SHIMLA: Former Himachal Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal today hit back at Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for his remarks that “he (Dhumal) is not an astrologer to predict early polls” and said that the manner in which the chief minister was making announcements about opening new institutions and developmental works without any budgetary provision, a common man with some political foresight can anticipate that elections could be advanced.

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 27

Former Himachal Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal today hit back at Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for his remarks that “he (Dhumal) is not an astrologer to predict early polls” and said that the manner in which the chief minister was making announcements about opening new institutions and developmental works without any budgetary provision, a common man with some political foresight can anticipate that elections could be advanced.

“In the past also, Virbhadra Singh had gone for early polls but the Congress government was never repeated under his chief ministership in the state”, Dhumal said adding that the government had failed to fulfill the poll promises and its tall claims of development were false.

The employees had not been given the benefits of 4-9-14, Dearness Allowance installments to employees and pensioners were being withheld for months and food grains and other items were not available in ration depots. But the Chief Minister was making a flurry of announcements to befool the people. It would not work, Dhumal said.

Accusing the Chief Minister of opening new educational institutions, simply for votes without assessing the needs, Dhumal said this was adversely impacting the quality of education and as a consequence, the pass percentage of more than 350 government schools was less than 20 per cent.

Further, the hasty implementation of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) had harmed the interests of the students who were not getting admissions in reputed colleges and universities in other states as their graduation degree was not being given due recognition in Punjab and Delhi for seeking admission in post-graduate courses.

Having a dig at the Chief Minister for commenting on chief ministerial candidates in BJP, Prem Kumar Dhumal said the “BJP is a democratic party and every leader has a right to stake his claim but before making such comments, he should ponder that how many Congress leaders are eyeing his chair”.