Minister of Himachal Pradesh Vikramaditya Singh claimed on Monday that his remarks regarding the state’s vendor policy had been unfairly framed from a communal perspective. He explained that his remarks were legal and that they upheld party ideology while defending the rights of the people of Himachal Pradesh.
Speaking during a press conference in Shimla, Vikramaditya Singh stated, “We brought up the concerns of the Himachal Pradesh people. It is regrettable that vending has taken on a communal form. Himachal has unique problems of its own. The topic of strengthening and forming vending zones in our municipal corporations was discussed, but it took on a communal and religious shape,” according to ANI.
“Our intention was very clear that we have to protect the interests of Himachal,” Vikramaditya Singh stated in response to the issue surrounding the names of the restaurant owners. “Leaving the party’s philosophy is not a possibility. Our ideology is the ideology of the party, and it is our duty to do as the party says. All we did was raise the voice of the Himachal people. It is regrettable to give it a common colour and associate it with another state.”
Sunday’s meeting between Vikramaditya Singh and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was marred by Singh’s previous comments that street vendors would have to show their identity cards at their establishments. Later on, the state government made it clear that no such choice had been made.
Singh claimed that the Congress leadership had not called him. “I was not summoned; I met the leadership of the party as I visited Delhi for pre-scheduled events,” stated the politician.
“I have presented my opinions to the central leadership of the party and reassured them that I am a committed and faithful member of the Congress party. I will always be prepared to implement the ideology and principles of Congress,” he continued, according to PTI.