9 MLAs warmly welcomed by BJP on reaching Shimla
six MLAs, Congress working president Rajendra Rana, Congress national secretary Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Indradutt Lakhanpal, Devendra Bhutto, and Chaitanya Sharma have joined the BJP. Along with this, three independents Ashish Sharma, KL Thakur, and Hoshiar Singh have also joined BJP. On Saturday, all the rebels joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Anurag Thakur, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, and BJP State President Dr. Rajeev Bindal in New Delhi. Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan was also present.
Welcoming all the 9 MLAs to BJP, Bindal said that this is a very important moment for Himachal, this is the first time in 70 years that 9 MLAs from the ruling party joined the opposition party. This type of sequence never happened in the state.
Jairam Thakur said that we welcome all the MLAs into the BJP family and their joining the party has strengthened the party. There is an atmosphere of suffocation in the Congress government and due to this, all the MLAs are not happy in the Congress party. He said that the Congress party is doing politics of vengeance and this is the biggest reason for the defeat of the Congress.
After that, all the nine MLAs were given a grand welcome and felicitation on their arrival at Shimla Peterhof, BJP workers welcomed everyone with flowers and garlands and saffronized the premises. The entire atmosphere became energetic with slogans of Jai Shri Ram.
Sudhir Sharma said that the Congress party has no vision in the state. Congress only criticizes Prime Minister Modi. Sudhir Sharma said that what is the point of being an MLA when we are not able to fulfill the promises made to our people. That is why in the Rajya Sabha elections we voted for Harsh Mahajan who is from our state. Today we all have joined BJP on our own will. When a person’s self-esteem gets hurt and there is no one to listen to you, then you should not stay in such a place. The government of friends became the Sukhu government, Friends Cafe became the secretariat.
Rana Rajendra Rana said that ever since the Congress government was formed in the state, he was not heard. Other issues including employing the youth were not taken into consideration by the government. The Congress government is not fulfilling the guarantees made to the people of the state. We are answerable to the people, but when people ask us we have no answer. CM has become a dictator and is insulting the people. There is no one to listen to the MLAs. The government is not being run according to the MLAs, but is being run by Sukhvindra Sukhu and his associates. Himachal government is on a ventilator. A person cannot compromise with self-respect, the government on a ventilator. We will file a defamation claim against Chief Minister Sukhu.
Ravi Thakur said that he served Lahaul-Spiti for 40 years without any selfishness by staying in Congress. I always remained loyal to the leadership of the Congress Party, but had to face harassment in the Congress government, I was even unconstitutionally suspended from the Assembly. Whenever the voice was raised for the rights of the people, an attempt was always made to suppress it. But I will not give up and will continue to raise my voice to fight for the rights of the people. I will also visit Lahaul-Spiti very soon. Ravi Thakur said that 90 percent of the total budget of Himachal Pradesh comes from the Centre. That is why I voted for Harsh Mahajan keeping in mind my constituency Lahaul-Spiti. It was unfortunate that the Speaker of the Assembly suspended us without any reason.
Chaitanya Sharma said that he has come into politics not to gain power but to serve the general public. Said that he has been raising the demands of youth and women prominently and he will be ready for the development of his area. He said that voting for Rajya Sabha is his fundamental right and he voted for Rajya Sabha only after listening to the voice of his conscience.
Hoshiar Singh said that the situation in Himachal Pradesh is very bad at present. Be it economic situation or law and order. We are independent MLAs and we had full right to vote in the Rajya Sabha elections. In the last 15 months, development work has come to a complete halt and hence we have taken this decision (to resign and join BJP) on our own.
Indradutt Lakhanpal said that the efficiency of Congress has collapsed. Neither the high command has any influence nor is there any respect left for the party workers. This decision was taken in the interest of the assembly constituency: Ashish Sharma, one of the three independent MLAs, said that we have taken this decision in the interest of the state and the assembly constituency. The way this country is progressing under the leadership of PM Modi, it is our good fortune that we too have got this opportunity to contribute something to it.
