Govt’s no to Cong rally at Dharamsala stadium

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 8

The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs has cancelled permission given to the Congress for using indoor stadium at Dharamsala for the program of party incharge Rajni Patil.

The Congress in charge is scheduled to visit Dharamsala tomorrow on July 9 and local Congress had booked indoor stadium for her address to the party workers.

The party had also deposited Rs 30,000 as rent for the venue.

However, just a day before the function the venue was cancelled by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department. The department’s spokesman was not available for comments. However, the decision has come in for severe criticism from the Congress leadership. Former minister and senior Congress leader from Dharamsala, Sudhir Sharma while talking to The Tribune, said it was strange that the department had cancelled the venue of their rally at the last moment. It clearly indicated that the permission had been denied due to political pressure.

“The present BJP government was stooping low and was trying to muzzle the voice of the Opposition. However, this would not deter the Congress from organizing a show of strength at Dharamsala”, Sudhir Sharma said.

He further alleged that the state government was organizing the programs of Khali across the state and government machinery was being misused for it. The government had even ditched the Khali, an international fame wrestler from the state, by first announcing a grant of Rs 4 crores for him and then denying him the amount, Sudhir alleged.

It was the first visit of the new Congress in charge to the lower areas of the state. She was visiting Dharamsala after which she would be visiting other lower areas. During her first visit to the state on June 9, Rajni Patil had to face the ire of former CM Virbhadra Singh. Many Congress leaders of the state owing allegiance to Virbhadra Singh had also not met her.

Virbhadra Singh had openly demanded the replacement of the HPCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu pending which he threatened to stay away from party campaign during the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

While Rajni Patil was in Shimla last month Virbhadra Singh had organized a rally at Dharamsala as a show of strength.

This time also Virbhadra Singh tour to lower areas had started before Rajni Patil’s visit.

While the Congress in charge would be starting her tour tomorrow, Virbhadra Singh had already toured Una and Hamirpur district on July 7 and 8.