Una, December 13- Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today (Friday) inaugurated the newly established office of Himachal Pradesh State Scheduled Caste Commission at Rampur in Una district. On this occasion, State Scheduled Caste Commission Chairman Kuldeep Kumar Dhiman, Commission members Advocate Vijay Dogra and Digvijay Malhotra were also present with him.
Addressing the public meeting organized on this occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the opening of this state level office in Una district is a historic step. Now this commission will be operated from here, which will ensure quick resolution of the complaints of Dalit society and the deprived. This will have far-reaching and positive results. He said that in future more state level offices will be brought in the district.
He said that Una district has become the leading district of the state in terms of the pace of development. We are determined to rise above party politics and ensure new dimensions of development in the district.
Mr Agnihotri said that while stressing on planned development in the state, Una, Hamirpur and Baddi are being made municipal corporations, which will further accelerate the pace of development in these areas. He also said that the state government is promoting water sports activities on a large scale in Kutlehad. This will give new dimensions to tourism in the area.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government is going to build a grand building for Mata Chintapurni temple at a cost of Rs 300 crore. Apart from this, development will be taken forward with the ropeway project there. He advised the people opposing the proposed ropeway for Chintapurni temple not to become a hindrance in development. He assured that the construction of the ropeway will increase business in the temple area and the traders here will benefit.

Strict instructions on illegal mining, chitta and tree cutting
The Deputy Chief Minister instructed the administration to focus on making the district completely free from three major problems, cracking down on illegal mining activities, taking strict action against those involved in the business of chitta and other drugs, and completely curbing the cutting and smuggling of big trees like Peepal and Banyan. He warned that laxity in this will not be tolerated. The administration should be seen active in the field.

Brakes applied on uncontrolled movement of tippers
The Deputy Chief Minister showed seriousness over the uncontrolled movement of tippers in the district at odd hours and directed to control it. He told the administration to fix a time limit for the movement of tippers. The movement of tippers should be banned between 6 am to 9 am and 7 pm to 10 pm, so that school children and people going out for a walk do not face inconvenience.

Pending exam results will come in 1 month
Shri Agnihotri said that the Congress government is a youth-friendly government. The pending results of various posts of the former Staff Selection Board will be declared within a month. Targeting the BJP, he said that papers were sold in the state during the BJP rule. Our government is youth-friendly. Work is being done for the interests of the youth with complete transparency.

Jairam should clarify BJP's stand on OPS
The Deputy Chief Minister challenged the Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur to clarify the BJP's stand on OPS. He said that Jairam Thakur should speak on what they will do with OPS if BJP comes to power in the state by mistake. He reminded the people that BJP has always been against the pension of employees. In 2003, the old pension scheme was discontinued during the BJP government at the Centre. We had promised to restart it and have fulfilled it with full confidence. The BJP government at the Centre is engaged in harming the interests of Himachal by reducing the state's loan limit and capping foreign fund projects. There is reluctance in returning the state's NPS fund of more than Rs 9 thousand crore. But the Congress government of the state is engaged in taking the state's development forward by overcoming every challenge.

BJP should not indulge in petty politics to defame HRTC-
67.50 crores given for pension payment, 1 thousand buses will be purchased soon-
Shri Agnihotri advised the BJP leaders of the state not to do cheap politics to defame HRTC. He said that lies have no legs. BJP leaders are trying to defame HRTC by making baseless allegations. He stressed that HRTC has been serving the people of the state for 50 years. It transports more than 5 lakh people to their destination every day. He was speaking in the context of the allegations of cutting tickets for cookers and heaters in HRTC buses and HRTC employees not getting pension.
He said that the state government has released Rs 67.50 crore to HRTC for payment of pension. To strengthen HRTC, 1000 new buses will be purchased soon. About 350 electric buses will be purchased. Apart from this, tempo travellers will also be purchased.

Special benefits to poor and backward classes from the commission office - Kuldeep Dhiman
On this occasion, Chairman Himachal Pradesh State Scheduled Caste Commission Kuldeep Kumar Dhiman expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Mr. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Mukesh Agnihotri for this important step of the Himachal Pradesh Government. He said that the decision to set up the office in Una will especially benefit the poor and backward classes. They will not have to go to Shimla for justice, but they will get the facility near their doorstep. He said that this office will not only increase the efficiency of the Commission, but will also ensure the availability of justice and services at the local level. This step of the Himachal Pradesh Government will prove to be a milestone for the empowerment of the people of the Scheduled Caste category and protection of their rights.
He also said that the commission is committed to protecting the interests of the Scheduled Castes and safeguarding their rights. The primary objective of the commission is to provide justice and facilities to the Dalits and backward classes.
Former MLA Satpal Raijada expressed gratitude to the state government for the inauguration of the commission's office in Una.
In the programme, Member Secretary of the Commission, Assistant Commissioner Varinder Sharma welcomed everyone and threw light on the functioning of the Commission.
On this occasion, Kutlahar MLA Vivek Sharma, former MLA Ganesh Barwal, District Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal, Superintendent of Police Rakesh Singh, Congress leader Ranjeet Rana, Ashok Thakur and other dignitaries were present.