NEW DELHI: Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Friday was invited Himachal Pradesh cabinet minister Vikramaditya Singh to New Delhi over comments about restaurants revealing the owner’s name. After the meeting, Venugopal said he conveyed the sentiments of the grand old party, saying “no minister or party official can go against the party’s policies and ideology”.
“I strongly express the sentiments of the Congress party. No minister or official of the party can go against the policies and ideology of the party. Rahul Gandhi spreads love and affection against hatred. We cannot create hatred,” said Venugopal.
“We believe in unity. We told him clearly that Congress ideology and Congress policy are very clear on these lines. He told us that he was misquoted by the media and there was no such intention,” he added.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya said that most of the discussion during the meeting with Venugopal was about the party and how the leaders should increase their organizational activities.
“The general discussion is about the party, how to increase the activities of the organization and how to strengthen the organization and move forward in that way. Whatever is reported in the media, I have said clearly that the interests of the party and the people of the country are the best for us and any action that done, whether it is heard from the Supreme Court or the order of the High Court, it is our duty to implement it from time to time, in the area of law, so this (food indicating the name of the owner) committee has been formed,” said Singh.
“It is very clear that protecting the interests of Himachal and taking it is our duty and responsibility and we will not back down from this. We have definitely formed a committee on this issue. In the all-party meeting, there will be people from the opposition and people from our party and all people will discuss and brainstorm,” the Congress leader added.
State Congress Committee Chairperson Pratibha Singh supported Vikramaditya Singh and said that there is no purpose behind this controversy.
“There is no intention behind this controversy. A committee has been formed with senior people, what action should be taken in this matter and the next decision in this regard will be taken according to the instructions of the party. high command,” he said.
The government committee also has people from the opposition, we will move forward after consulting with everyone and after getting everyone’s consent,” he said.
Vikramaditya Singh, who is the state’s public works minister, on Wednesday announced that all traders and street vendors in Himachal Pradesh will be required to display their identity cards. The move comes a day after the UP government revived its standing order asking restaurants to display their ownership details, this time to enforce responsibility for food safety.
Street vendors, especially those selling food, will also be inspected for cleanliness and quality by the food supply department, he said.
The Himachal minister defended the move citing internal security issues, public concerns and also the drug menace in the state. The proposal comes in the backdrop of massive protests against the dispute over illegal construction at Shimla’s Sanjauli mosque which has thrown the spotlight on the country’s street vendors and prompted calls for a policy to identify, verify and register them.
After the incident, assembly chairman Kuldeep Singh Pathania became a committee of seven assembly members to formulate street vendors policy. “The decision on the KTP card was taken considering the “concern” expressed by some local residents about the number of migrants in the country,” Vikramaditya Singh said. He also said that the decision was taken on the lines taken by the Uttar Pradesh government.
However, the move caused a storm in the party. Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister TS Singh Deo has openly criticized the state government’s move. “I do not agree with the Himachal government’s decision. I saw a video on social media showing a cross marked above the lid of minority-owned shops, indicating a boycott. This can be misunderstood, and if the Himachal government does this, the question will arise as to whether it should remain in power,” Deo told news agency IANS.
