Y.S. Rana , Shimla-Feb 26 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal has described the union railway budget presented in the Lok Sabha as disappointing and contrary to the expectations and aspirations of the simple, hard working and peace loving people. He said that the interest of HP had been totally ignored and proved that union government was discriminating peace loving states, which was unfortunate.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the union government goes all out to help those states where terrorism was being encouraged while states like Himachal Pradesh which peaceful and people law abiding were paying price for it. He said that the Union Railway Ministers are confined to their home States only and not bothered about rest of the country. He feared that if the railway expansion would be as per the whims and fancies of the Union Railway Ministers the future of the country could be well imagined. He said that Himachal could get only 33 kms. length of railway line in 63 years after independence which too is only partially electrified. He said that when the country had war with China in 1962, it was unprepared and inadequately equipped. He said that now when China had strengthened its connectivity through all weather railway network, air strips and road network on the borders of the country, the Railway Budget has least priority for railway line upto Leh which was in the best interest of the country and strategically important. He said that UPA Government is ready to carry man and material to the borders by road but not ready to construct the railway line showing least concern towards the security of the country.
Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh has contributed significantly towards the national interest by way of constructing hydro electric projects, motivating its youth to serve in the armed forces and feeding the limbs of the country with clean and healthy fresh air by protecting the environment of Himalayas. He said that the matter had been brought to the notice of the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister, Railway Minister and Planning Commission of India, repeatedly but nothing had come out. He said that the Union Government was ignoring the contribution of the state in National Security as thousands of youth from the state were serving in the Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal termed the proposals of Railway Budget of the UPA Government for the financial year 2011-12 as disappointing and jugglery of figures where interests of the people of the State and national security had been ignored.