Law & order top priority: Dhumal
NEWDELHI:The Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial candidate in Himachal Pradesh, Prem Kumar Dhumal, 73, said in an interview that his top priority would be restoring law and order, which, he alleged, has taken a turn for the worse over the past five years under the Congress government headed by Virbhadra Singh.
“I have to protect life, property and honour of the people. This is my top priority,” he said over phone on his way back from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally in Una.
Dhumal, who specifically mentioned the need to “protect the dignity of women” said the state had its share of young police officers who were currently “side-lined” and would help him achieve that.
Dhumal predicted the BJP would win more than 60 seats in the 68-member assembly; the party’s target is 50-plus, he added. With Prime Minister Modi holding election rallies all over the state, the mood of public is such that the Congress will be wiped out.
The Virbhadra regime is a symbol of corruption and misgovernance and people have decided to uproot it,” he said.
Dhumal said that following Modi’s instructions he would target the drug, liquor, forest, land and transfer mafias operating in the state under the protection of the Congress regime.
Dhumal also took a shot at the Congress’ national leadership for not turning up to support Virbhadra Singh’s election campaign.