Kharge, Sonia to attend Virbhadra statue unveiling ceremony at Ridge

The statue of former Chief Minister, late Virbhadra Singh, will be unveiled at The Ridge on July 15 in a grand ceremony. The event will be graced by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, senior Congress leaders, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, members of the state cabinet and all MLAs will also attend the ceremony.

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This was announced by Vikramaditya Singh, Public Works Minister and president of the Raja Virbhadra Singh Foundation during a press conference held today. The unveiling ceremony was initially scheduled for June 23, which marks the birth anniversary of the late leader. However, the date was rescheduled to accommodate senior Congress leaders who expressed a strong desire to attend but were unable to do so due to prior commitments and health-related issues, particularly those concerning Sonia Gandhi.

Vikramaditya said that he had recently visited Delhi, where he personally met several top Congress leaders and extended invitations to them. “They expressed keen interest in attending the ceremony, but due to prior engagements, they were unable to commit to the original date. Therefore, we decided to reschedule the ceremony to July 15 to ensure their presence. A grand unveiling will now take place at The Ridge,” he stated.

Vikramaditya said that Virbhadra Singh was not only a towering leader in Himachal Pradesh but also a nationally respected statesman. “Leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties have expressed a desire to be part of the unveiling ceremony,” he added.

He also mentioned that invitations have been extended to opposition leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and Union Health Minister JP Nadda. “Raja Virbhadra Singh was a leader who commanded respect across political lines. In keeping with this spirit, we are inviting everyone to be a part of this significant occasion,” he added.

Prior to the press conference, he chaired a meeting of the Raja Virbhadra Singh Foundation to review preparations for the ceremony. He directed office-bearers to ensure that the event is historic and memorable.

Additionally, he informed that the fourth death anniversary ritual (Chaturvarshik Shraddh) of Virbhadra Singh will be held on June 24 at his ancestral residence in Rampur Bushahr. He invited people from across the state to attend the ceremony and pay their respects.