Shanta Kumar pats Himachal Pradesh CM’s back for tackling monsoon fury
This comes at a time when the opposition BJP has been accusing Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government of ill-preparedness
Former Bharatiya Janata Party chief minister and ex-Union Minister from Himachal Pradesh, Shanta Kumar, is known for his plain speaking in the party and public. The octogenarian leader, Lok Sabha MP from Kangra, has often suffered because of his forthright approach.
His remarks on corruption against then BJP chief Bangaru Laxman and the Gujarat riots were not taken well by the party. Ignored like other elders in the party at the national level, this senior most leader from Himachal (who was also the first non Congress CM of HP in 1977) refers to his role in BJP as a ‘guest artist’ as he prepares to retire from active politics ahead of the 2019 Parliament polls.
In an interview to ARCHANA PHULL in his home town, Palampur, Shanta Kumar spoke of his political concerns ahead of the Himachal Assembly polls.
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The BJP is ahead of other parties in the entire country. It is the same situation in HP. It is for the first time that any chief minister (Virbhadra Singh) in Himachal has faced serious allegations of corruption. The governance and administration in the hill state has gone haywire and is at the lowest ebb under the present Congress rule.
The law and order situation is so bad. The Kotkhai case (gangrape and murder of a 16 year old schoolgirl) has brought shame to HP. More so, during the probe into the case, the CBI arrested eight police officials for alleged custodial death of an accused. This has never happened in the state earlier. I am sure people of HP will elect a BJP government this time.
It is the party’s decision. I am in fact worried about politics in the entire country. Values, morality and truth are taking the backseat. It is the consequence of such politics that even after 70 years of independence, India is going down on the economic front. The result of politics of vote banks is that 19 crore Indians are still facing hunger. If politics continues to be like this in India, it would worsen the scenario further. I urge my party that there should be no compromise with morality and principles.
I don’t feel ignored and am happy. The values of society are generally changing. We need more oldage homes. But the trend is not good. A family means that while the new blood comes in, the elderly too should be respected. It’s true of every field.
The decision to declare a CM face before or after the polls is a part of electoral strategy. The BJP high command takes the final call on this.
No comments. It is for the party high command to decide.
The anti-incumbency feeling against the state government always plays a role in HP Assembly polls. The Modi factor is an attraction in elections here as people have a strong message that central projects are not being implemented by Congress government in Himachal for different reasons.
I had put forth my viewpoint at the party platform. The tickets were generally decided by consensus. At a few places, there was some problem. The final decision, however, always rests with the party high command.
I will work for the party wherever they need me.
Yes, I am fully satisfied with my political journey. I have always followed my ideals and principles in politics. I had to pay the price for this approach many times. I even quit a post once. But I am proud of that.
I entered politics when I was just 19 years old. I am 84 years old and feel that I need to withdraw from politics gradually. I won’t be into active politics and won’t contest any election now. I will be more active in the work of Vivekananda Medical Research Trust (VMRT) in Palampur, where we are now building an old-age home. Q
I am writing my memoirs. I have just completed the synopsis and will take it up further as soon as I get some free time.
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