CM skips Manali carnival

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Manali, January 3

Every year Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh opened the five-day winter carnival in Manali, but this time he could not inaugurate it due to official reasons.

Locals, who are affected due to the NGT orders, said they were waiting for the CM to arrive yesterday so that they could apprise him about their grievances, but his absence left them upset.

“Many families lost business after the NGT ordered closure of all commercial activities at the Rohtang Pass. We wanted the state government to provide livelihood opportunities to us, but we were disappointed due to the Chief Minister’s absence,” said Shakuntal Devi, a local resident.

Anup Thakur, president of the Kullu-Manali Tourism Development Association, said: “We were planning to submit our demands to the Chief Minister, but his absence disappointed us. Two years ago, the Chief Minister had announced to provide electricity in Manali town from AD project, but so far nothing has been done.”

Gajender Thakur, president of the Manali Hoteliers Association, said: “We have a number of demands pending with the state government and now we will have to visit Shimla to apprise him about our grievances.”

BJP MLA from the Manali constituency Govind Thakur alleged that it showed Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s apathy towards Kullu district.