December 25 :Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, greeted the former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee on his birthday at his residence in New Delhi, by presenting a bouquet and wished him a good health and long life.
Chief Minister said that people of Himachal Pradesh were indebted towards Shri Vajpayee who had always been considerate towards the welfare of the hill people. He said that the State was provided Special Industrial Package by Shri Vajpayee which gave boost to industrial investments in the State. He said that at no point of time Shri Vajpayee had turned down any of the request made by the State and had been liberal in granting financial packages to help the State carry forward with its developmental activities.
Prof Dhumal said that Shri Vajpayee had special attachment with the people of Himachal Pradesh and whenever he got time he always visited Manali which he considered his second home. He said that the State Government had launched Atal Awas Yojna in the name of the great patriot and leader of the country and named Himalayan Mountaineering and Allied Sports Institute after him. He said that State successfully launched Rs. 80 crore ambitious Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna providing four CFL bulbs free of cost to all the 16.5 lakh domestic consumers in the State. He said that on his birthday a Cricket Stadium at Amtar in Nadaun in district Hamirpur had also been dedicated and named after him as a mark of respect he had in the hearts of the people of Himachal Pradesh.`
Chief Minister said that the contribution made by Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee in the development of the State would be considered as a golden era in the history of Himachal Pradesh and the people would remain indebted for his generosity towards the State during his Prime Ministership. He said that Shri Vajpayee would be remembered by the people of Himachal Pradesh for ages to come.