Shimla, Sept 13,
In the wake of rising tensions in Shimla, an all-party meeting was convened on September 13, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.
The meeting aimed to address the ongoing local dispute over street vendors and the construction of an illegal shrine in Sanjauli, which has triggered protests by right-wing organizations, particularly the Devbhoomi Sarankshan Munch.
The protest, called on September 11, had turned violent, prompting the government to intervene and seek peaceful solutions. The leaders in attendance, representing various political parties including Congress, BJP, Aam Aadmi Party, CPM, and CPI, discussed the matter in detail. All parties agreed that Himachal Pradesh has always been a peaceful state, with mutual harmony among its people, and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining this spirit of unity.
The joint statement released after the meeting appealed to the public to maintain peace and brotherhood in the state. “We welcome tourists from India and abroad to Himachal Pradesh and urge all citizens to uphold mutual harmony,” the statement read.
The leaders also reached a consensus on addressing the issue of street vendors across the state. It was decided to request the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to form a joint committee to draft a comprehensive policy for street vendors in Himachal Pradesh, ensuring fair treatment for all.
The local dispute in Shimla, which revolves around tensions between local vendors and outsiders, as well as the construction of an illegal shrine, is expected to be resolved legally at the earliest, as decided in the meeting.
Among the attendees were Pratibha Singh, President of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee; Rajiv Bindal, BJP State President; Onkar Shad, CPM State Secretary; and K.K. Kaushal, former MLA from CPI, along with other key political figures.
The government is working to diffuse the situation, though differences in opinion had surfaced within the ruling party itself, particularly between Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh and local MLA Harish Janartha. Both leaders had taken divergent positions on the issue, which further complicated the matter.
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