HP youth Cong to protest against ‘religious intolerance’

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress will hold protests against “growing religious intolerance” in the country and “failure” of Narendra Modi-led Central government to curb in communal forces.

“The youth Congress would not let communal forces vitiate the communal and cultural harmony in the country,” state Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh told media persons here.

The first rally will be held at Shimla on November 16.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, state Congress president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu, ministers,AICC members, and other senior leaders will address the rally, state Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh told media persons here.

“The incidents of religious intolerance have jolted even the intellectual class in the country. Many poets and writers, Sahitya Academy Awards winners, Filmmakers and National Awardees have returned their awards to express their resentment against Modi government’s failure to rein in divisive forces in the country,” he said.

He accused PM Modi of trying to “wash his hands” from his government’s responsibilities by saying the Centre has no role in such incidents.

“It is the duty of the Centre to preserve cultural traditions and maintain peace,” he said.

Singh also refuted allegations that HP High Court judges had granted relief to CM Virbhadra Singh and his family (in a corruption case) as they had earlier represented them.

“The HP High Court Judges had never represented the CM or his family in any case. This allegation shows that CBI was working under pressure from BJP,” he added.

He said youth Congress would field youth leaders in the panchayati elections in the state.

He also raised the issue of protesting families likely to be uprooted by four-laning of Shimla-Solan Highway.

He assured that he would take up the issue with the Central and state government to bring the affected families under Factor-2 from Factor-1 so that they may get adequate compensation for their land.