After Himachal ex-CM Virbhadra Singh, demand to raise statues of Ram Lal Thakur and Sukh Ram on Shimla’s Ridge ground
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Strap: Amid political crisis, Education Minister Rohit Thakur and BJP’s Ashray Sharma seek rightful due for their grandfathers
The Newz Radar
MANDI: After a recent controversy in the Himachal Pradesh Congress over erecting the statue of six-term Chief Minister late Virbhadra Singh alongside the one of first Chief Minister Dr YS Parmar, similar demands have been raised for two other state leaders.
Himachal PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh had recently gone public with his grouse that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had vetoed his demand for erecting his father Virbhadra Singh’s statue on the Ridge in Shimla. The Sukhu regime, facing existential crisis after the rebellion by six Congress MLAs, had subsequently given in to Vikramaditya’s demand and even got a related resolution passed in a cabinet meeting.
Now, Education Minister Rohit Thakur has demanded that a statue of his grandfather and three-term Chief Minister late Ram Lal Thakur also deserved to be placed on the Ridge, if the honour was bestowed upon late Virbhadra Singh. The latest to join the statue politics is BJP leader Ashray Sharma, who has pressed for the installation of the statue of his grandfather and former Congress leader and ex-Union Minister Pandit Sukh Ram in Mandi and Shimla.
In a press release, Ashray Sharma underscored the legacy of Pandit Sukh Ram who heralded the telecom revolution in the country and the state, emphasising its widespread benefits. “During the 1990s, optical fibre was laid across Himachal Pradesh, even in remote regions, facilitating ubiquitous high-speed internet access that endures to this day. Helicopters were utilised to transport telephone exchange machinery to remote areas, enabling the establishment of vital communication links, thereby commendably fostering connectivity among villages. The establishment of public call offices (PCOs) in every village further facilitated connectivity and employment opportunities,” he said.
Ashray said after agricultural revolution, the communication revolution stood as a beacon of progress for the people. “While Pandit Sukh Ram may no longer be with us, his enduring contributions will continue to enrich future generations. Therefore, it is imperative that his statue finds a place of honour on Shimla’s Ridge and at his ancestral place. We urge the government to expedite the allocation of land for the statue on the Ridge and in Mandi,” he said.
