The Hindu : Himachal CM plans 'Vishwas Yatra'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 22, 2002

National

National

Himachal CM plans 'Vishwas Yatra'

By Kanwar Yogendra

SHIMLA DEC. 21. Elated by the Gujarat elections outcome, the BJP cadres in Himachal Pradesh under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, have planned a "Vishwas Yatra'' to "thank the general masses in the State for supporting the Government for a full five-year term.''

This is the first time in the history of the hill State that a non-Congress Government is completing a full term.

The yatra will start from Hidimba Temple in Kulu-Manali on Sunday and cover the snow-bound areas of the Mandi and Kulu parliamentary constituencies, according to the organiser, Praveen Sharma — a close confidant of Mr. Dhumal and a Minister of State in the Government.

``We have finished the gap between the ruling and the ruled and have fulfilled all the promises made in our manifesto,'' claimed Mr. Dhumal, who is also inviting the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

Talking to presspersons at his residence, Mr. Dhumal said that the BJP had changed the face of politics from "durbar'' to "janata ke dwar''.

The yatra will be undertaken to re-establish the people's faith in the Government and its policies, according to a party spokesman.

Political observers here, however, are apprehensive about the success of the yatra what with no end to dissidence in the party.

The recent resignation of the Agriculture Minister, Vidya Sagar, the revolt by some other Ministers, statements by Shanta Kumar supporters, including his wife, accusing Mr. Dhumal on the delimitation issue and parallel meetings named as "Mitra Milans'' by Mr. Shanta Kumar's supporters all over the State may spoil the BJP game plan during the yatra, it is stated.

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