Shimla: After a prolonged political tussle, the statue of former six-term Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister the late Virbhadra Singh is set to be installed at Daulat Singh Park on Shimla’s historic Ridge.
The Shimla Municipal Corporation House, chaired by Mayor Surender Chauhan, gave its final approval on Saturday, putting an end to a contentious debate over the statue’s placement.
Proposal first presented in 2021
The decision comes after a proposal was first presented by Congress councillor Simi Nanda on July 30, 2021, seeking the installation of Virbhadra’s statue to honour his significant contributions to the state.
The Municipal Corporation approved the proposal at that time and a no-objection certificate (NOC) was issued to the district administration on June 2, 2023. However, despite these approvals, the progress stalled, leading to a political flashpoint between Virbhadra Singh’s family and the current administration.
The delay in installing the statue became a source of tension between Vikramaditya Singh, the son of Virbhadra Singh and a cabinet minister, along with his mother, Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh, and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
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Source of Vikramaditya-Sukhu discord
Vikramaditya and Pratibha Singh publicly expressed their dissatisfaction with the slow pace, questioning the commitment of the government to properly honour the former Chief Minister. The growing divide was a point of contention within the Congress as Virbhadra’s supporters pushed for faster action.
Despite the friction, the Municipal Corporation has now identified Daulat Singh Park as the final site for the statue. It will be positioned between the statues of former Chief Minister YS Parmar and Daulat Singh, cementing Virbhadra Singh’s legacy alongside other key figures in the state’s history.
State govt to give final clearance
The proposal for the statue will be forwarded to the state government through the district administration for final clearance. The prolonged delay had previously led to political disputes, with several Congress leaders, including Vikramaditya, raising questions about why it was taking so long to honour the former CM on such a prominent platform.
Virbhadra Singh, who served six terms as Chief Minister, remains a towering figure in Himachal Pradesh’s political history, with his contributions to education, health and infrastructure widely recognised. The installation of his statue at the Ridge is seen as a significant tribute to his lasting legacy.
