HP to preserve Vajpayee’s memories in Manali

Manali: The memoirs, historical decisions, achievements and everything belonging to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be preserved by the state government in Manali, said forest and transport minister Govind Singh Thakur while remembering Vajpayee during Atal Smriti-2019, an event to pay tributes to Vajpayee on his first death anniversary. He said the government is going to take a serious step to preserve memories of Vajpayee, who had a house in Manali and had special affection for people of the town.

As chief minister Jai Ram Thakur’s helicopter could not take off from Shimla due to inclement weather, he addressed people present in programme through video conferencing.

Be it Kargil war, poems penned in Manali, general talks with public or his speeches, the local poets, historians and Army officials also shared the Vajpayee moments with the public in their own style. The family members of soldiers who received gallantry awards were also honoured on this occasion.

The foundation stone of Vajpayee’s statue to be built on the Mall Road of Manali was also laid by the CM through video conferencing.

Govind Thakur said a life size statue of Vajpayee would be established in Kullu too. He said another statue is proposed to be built in Shimla.

“The Union government through Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has given its principal approval for a world-class adventure sports centre. The centre would be developed in Hamta area and it too would be dedicated to Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” he added.