NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Friday summoned Himachal Pradesh cabinet minister Vikramaditya Singh to New Delhi over his remarks on eateries displaying names of owners. After the meeting, Venugopal said that he strongly conveyed the sentiments of the grand old party, stating "no minister or party functionary can can go against the party's policies and ideologies".
"I strongly conveyed the sentiments of the Congress party. No minister or party functionary can go against the party's policies and ideologies. Rahul Gandhi is spreading love and affection against hatred. We cannot create hatred," Venugopal said.
"We believe in unity. We told him very clearly that the Congress ideology and Congress policies are very clear on these lines. He told me that he was misquoted by the media and there was no such intention," he added.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya said that the most of the discussions during the meeting with Venugopal was about the party and how the leaders should further increase the oraganisational activities.
"Most of the discussions were about the party, how we should further increase the organisational activities and how we should strengthen the organisation and move forward in that way. As far as whatever has been reported in the media, I have said very clearly that the interests of the party and the people of the state are best for us and whatever action is going on in it, whether it is a hearing of the Supreme Court or an order of the High Court, it is our duty to implement it from time to time, within the ambit of the law, so for this (eateries displaying the names of owners) a committee has been formed," Singh said.
"It is very clear that protecting the interests of Himachal and taking it forward is our duty and our responsibility and we will never step back 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 everyone will discuss and brainstorm," the Congress leader added.
State Congress Committee chief Pratibha Singh came out in support on Vikramaditya Singh and said that there was no such intention behind this controversy that has arisen.
"There was no such intention behind this controversy that has arisen. A committee has been formed in which there are senior people, what action we have to take in this matter and the next decision on this will be taken as per the instructions of the party's high command," she said
The government committee also has people from the opposition, we will move forward after consulting with everyone and after getting everyone's consent," she added.
Vikramaditya Singh, who is the state public works minister, had on Wednesday announced that it will be mandatory for all shopkeepers and street vendors in Himachal Pradesh to display their identity cards. The move came a day after UP government revived a stayed order asking eateries to display ownership details, this time to enforce accountability for food safety.
Street vendors, especially those selling food items, will also be checked for hygiene and quality by the food supplies department, he had added.
The Himachal minister defended the move citing internal security concerns, people's apprehensions and also drug menace in the state. The proposal comes in the backdrop of massive protests against the dispute over illegal construction in Shimla's Sanjauli mosque which put the spotlight on growing street vendors in the state and led to demands for a policy to identify, verify and register them.
Following the incident, assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania constituted a seven-member committee of the assembly to make a street vendors policy. "The decision on ID cards was taken considering "apprehensions" expressed by several locals about rising number of migrants in the state," Vikramaditya Singh said. He had also mentioned that the decision was taken on the lines of the one taken by the Uttar Pradesh government.
However, the move has raised a storm within the party. Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister TS Singh Deo has openly criticised the state government's move. "I do not agree with the Himachal government's decision. I saw a video on social media showing crosses being marked above the shutters of minority-owned shops, indicating a boycott. This is condemnable, and if the Himachal government is doing this, questions will arise about whether it deserves to remain in power," Deo told news agency IANS.
"I strongly conveyed the sentiments of the Congress party. No minister or party functionary can go against the party's policies and ideologies. Rahul Gandhi is spreading love and affection against hatred. We cannot create hatred," Venugopal said.
#WATCH | Delhi: On his meeting with Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh over his statement regarding eateries displaying the names of owners, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal says, "I strongly conveyed the sentiments of the Congress party. No minister or party… pic.twitter.com/g4d4tJhcWV
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2024
"We believe in unity. We told him very clearly that the Congress ideology and Congress policies are very clear on these lines. He told me that he was misquoted by the media and there was no such intention," he added.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya said that the most of the discussions during the meeting with Venugopal was about the party and how the leaders should further increase the oraganisational activities.
"Most of the discussions were about the party, how we should further increase the organisational activities and how we should strengthen the organisation and move forward in that way. As far as whatever has been reported in the media, I have said very clearly that the interests of the party and the people of the state are best for us and whatever action is going on in it, whether it is a hearing of the Supreme Court or an order of the High Court, it is our duty to implement it from time to time, within the ambit of the law, so for this (eateries displaying the names of owners) a committee has been formed," Singh said.
"It is very clear that protecting the interests of Himachal and taking it forward is our duty and our responsibility and we will never step back 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 everyone will discuss and brainstorm," the Congress leader added.
State Congress Committee chief Pratibha Singh came out in support on Vikramaditya Singh and said that there was no such intention behind this controversy that has arisen.
"There was no such intention behind this controversy that has arisen. A committee has been formed in which there are senior people, what action we have to take in this matter and the next decision on this will be taken as per the instructions of the party's high command," she said
The government committee also has people from the opposition, we will move forward after consulting with everyone and after getting everyone's consent," she added.
Vikramaditya Singh, who is the state public works minister, had on Wednesday announced that it will be mandatory for all shopkeepers and street vendors in Himachal Pradesh to display their identity cards. The move came a day after UP government revived a stayed order asking eateries to display ownership details, this time to enforce accountability for food safety.
Street vendors, especially those selling food items, will also be checked for hygiene and quality by the food supplies department, he had added.
The Himachal minister defended the move citing internal security concerns, people's apprehensions and also drug menace in the state. The proposal comes in the backdrop of massive protests against the dispute over illegal construction in Shimla's Sanjauli mosque which put the spotlight on growing street vendors in the state and led to demands for a policy to identify, verify and register them.
Following the incident, assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania constituted a seven-member committee of the assembly to make a street vendors policy. "The decision on ID cards was taken considering "apprehensions" expressed by several locals about rising number of migrants in the state," Vikramaditya Singh said. He had also mentioned that the decision was taken on the lines of the one taken by the Uttar Pradesh government.
However, the move has raised a storm within the party. Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister TS Singh Deo has openly criticised the state government's move. "I do not agree with the Himachal government's decision. I saw a video on social media showing crosses being marked above the shutters of minority-owned shops, indicating a boycott. This is condemnable, and if the Himachal government is doing this, questions will arise about whether it deserves to remain in power," Deo told news agency IANS.
