Congress slide not good for democracy: Shanta Kumar

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 14

Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar today said the Congress as a party was decaying because it had not been able to pull itself out of the shadow of the Gandhi family. Since the Congress was the main Opposition party, it would be unfortunate its fortunes continued to slide at the same pace. A good opposition was a must for a healthy democracy.

He appreciated the efforts of the state to host the Investors Meet and said that it was the only way to create more jobs in the state.

Shanta Kumar said the BJP would comfortably win the Dharamsala bypoll. About his political inheritance, he said, “I do not want to leave any inheritance in politics. I am against dynastic politics and so do not want to leave any inheritance”. The veteran leader also addressed booth level election meetings in various parts of Dharamsala. He came out to campaign for the party for the first time during the byelection.

Though Shanta Kumar had announced that he was quitting active politics and would concentrate on writing his autobiography, he was pulled into campaigning by the party.

Shanta Kumar was also accompanied by the BJP MP Kishan Kapoor.

In Chamunda area Rakesh Pathania, BJP MLA from Nurpur campaigned with the party candidate, Vishal Nehria. While addressing the election rallies, Pathania said that people of Dharamsala should support the candidate belonging to the ruling party. He said that development would take place in Dharamsala only if there was a BJP MLA in the constituency.

Ramesh Dhawala, BJP MLA from Jawalamukhi, also gave a message to the voters in his own unique style. “You cannot put a car tyre in a truck. If you do it, it will not work”, Dhawala said in his rustic style.

‘Controversy at lit fest unfortunate’

The former Chief Minister expressed concern over the controversy created in the literary festival in Kasauli. Shanta was responding to queries regarding protest carried out against the festival by some right wing activists. Some Hindu Jagran Manch activists had protested against the festival alleging that some speakers had spoken against Hindus. Shanta said that he was a great admirer of Kushwant Singh. The functions like literary festivals should be organized as these help in the growth of literature. However, it was unfortunate that a controversy has been created regarding the event.

Card only with photo acceptable for voting: EC

Shimla: Voters in Dharamsala and Pachhad constituencies, who have been issued photo identity cards, have to produce these for identification in the polling stations before casting votes, said a spokesperson of the Chief Electoral Office, Shimla, here on Monday. Those, who don’t have the cards, could produce passport, driving licence, service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by Central and state government, public service undertakings, the spokesperson said. TNS