‘Vikramaditya was elected, not nominated’

SHIMLA: In an oblique reference to Himachal Pradesh Congress committee president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who was nominated as the state Congress chief, Virbhadra Singh said his son was appointed the Youth Congress president through election and was not nominated.

Addressing a public meeting at Kumarsain, chief minister Virbhadra Singh said, “Vikramaditya Singh was not appointed as the president of the state Youth Congress by nomination but by virtue of elections in a democratic manner.”

Virbhadra Singh has been time and again raised questions over Sukhu’s appointment as party chief by nomination. However, the party general secretary Sushil Kumar Shinde maintained that both leaders were not issuing statements against each other.

Virbhadra Singh’s comment is likely to widen the rift between the chief minister and the party chief.

Meanwhile, quoting former finance minister Yashwant Sinha’s recent remarks, while attacking the Union government for alleged ‘chaotic’ economic situation in the country, Virbhadra Singh said the NDA government is befooling people on the issue of employment. The NDA promised to provide employment to two crore unemployed people but the ground reality is quite different.

He said that the loan waiver announced by the NDA for farmers is nothing more than a mockery as in some cases, the amount waived off is as low as two to five rupees.

Earlier, Virbhadra Singh inaugurated the Rana Someshwar Singh stadium.

He said, “A void was created after his demise and I hope the stadium constructed in his name would be utilised in a better way.” Virbhadra also directed to erect a statue of Rana Someshwar Singh in the stadium complex.

VIRBHADRA’S COMMENT IS BEING SEEN AS A VEILED ATTACK ON SUKHU, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE PARTY HIGH COMMAND