Ganesh Kendale
Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh has clarified his recent remarks on the street vendors issue to the Congress high command, assuring them that he remains committed to the party’s ideology. He dismissed the perception that the Uttar Pradesh model was being followed in his state as a misconception.
Singh said that an all-party committee formed by the Speaker in Himachal Pradesh would discuss all aspects of street vending on October 3.
In an interview with PTI, Singh highlighted that there was no controversy on the ground and that the issue had been exaggerated by the media. He informed Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal about the actual situation and assured him of the state government’s dedication to the party’s principles.
Singh also highlighted the need for the government to ensure internal security and maintain a conducive environment, given the recent mosque issue and other protests in the state.
“I apprised Venugopal ji of the real situation and I assuaged his concerns about ideology and assured him that we are dedicated and loyal soldiers of the party and will not do anything which is against party line. I assured him that,” said the PWD minister in the Himachal Pradesh government led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
“But at the same time, I also told him that in Himachal, for the last one and a half months, first there was the mosque issue and other protest as well as in light of the law, the high court and Supreme Court directives and our 2016 law on urban livelihood, the implementation has to be done in a phased manner,” he said.
He highlighted that the government is not against anyone and merely seeks to demarcate vending zones and conduct verification for the sake of law and order.
Singh also addressed the misconception that the Uttar Pradesh model was being followed in Himachal Pradesh, saying that the two states have different perspectives and legal frameworks.
Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh expressed her support for identifying “outsiders” for the purpose of state security but distanced herself from the BJP’s ideology and working style.
The Congress party had previously distanced itself from Vikramaditya Singh’s remarks on mandatory display of names by street vendors, with AICC’s Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajiv Shukla clarifying that vendors would be given licenses and regulated, but there was no requirement for them to display their names at their stalls.
