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Vikramaditya Singh, a minister in the Himachal Pradesh government, met with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday, September 28, 2024, to assure him of his unwavering commitment to the party's ideology and principles. This meeting comes in the wake of recent controversy surrounding Singh's remarks on making it mandatory for eateries in the hill state to display the names of their owners. Singh's suggestion, which drew criticism from within the Congress party, was perceived as a move similar to the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh government's policies.
During the meeting with Kharge, Singh aimed to clarify the party's concerns regarding his recent statements. He reportedly informed Congress general secretary in-charge organization, Venugopal, about the true circumstances surrounding his proposal. He stressed that his actions were not intended to deviate from the party line, emphasizing his dedication and loyalty to the Congress. Singh also sought to dispel the misconception that the Himachal Pradesh government was planning to implement a policy akin to the one in Uttar Pradesh. He emphasized that the media had misrepresented his proposal and that the Congress high command was provided with factual information to address their concerns.
The controversy surrounding Singh's suggestion gained significant attention and resulted in widespread disapproval from Congress leaders, who criticized the move's 'communal' nature. In response to the backlash, Singh issued a clarification stating that he had been misquoted by the media. He attributed his suggestion to local apprehensions regarding the 'rising' numbers of migrants in the state. The Congress government itself distanced itself from its minister's suggestion, stating that no decision had been made to require street vendors to display nameplates or identification at their stalls.
Rajiv Shukla, the AICC's Himachal Pradesh in-charge, stated that he had discussed the issue with both Singh and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Shukla clarified that street vendors would be regulated through licenses and designated areas would require identification, such as Aadhaar cards and licenses, but there was no requirement for them to display their name as the owner. This clarification aimed to alleviate concerns raised by the party leadership and the public regarding the initial proposal.
Source: Himachal eateries ID row: Vikramaditya Singh meets Kharge, conveys commitment to Cong ideology