Vikramaditya says bound by party policy, ideology

Shimla: After meeting the Congress high command in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh public works and urban development minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday cleared that the party’s ideology as well as protecting the interests of the people of the state were paramount for him.
He also said it was unfortunate that his statement about the street vendors was given a political and communal colour.
After Vikramaditya had announced mandatory display of owner’s identity by street vendors and food outlets to ensure hygiene and accountability, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress govt had on Sept 26 distanced itself from the statement and clarified that so far, the state govt had not taken any such decision.
On Monday, the PWD minister also claimed that the reports stating that he was summoned by the Congress high command to Delhi were baseless as he had gone to the national capital on a pre-scheduled visit.
Vikramaditya said he made it a point to meet the Congress’s senior leadership on every visit to Delhi to discuss the state’s concerns and developmental issues.
Addressing the media persons, the PWD minister emphasised that he was a “loyal worker of the Congress party” and was “bound by the policies and ideology” of the party.
Vikramaditya said he met national president of the Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge, and general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal in Delhi and explained to them that whatever statement he had made earlier was as per the law and the Centre’s 2014 Act on street vending, and it was unfortunate to link his statement with some other state.
He reiterated that the registration of street vendors was necessary to maintain hygiene and law and order of the state.
The minister also said he was happy over the finalisation of space by the Shimla municipal corporation for the installation of his father and six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s statue on the Ridge. He also thanked the chief minister for this decision.