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The recent controversy surrounding Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh's remarks on street vendors has taken a new turn as he has clarified his stance to the Congress high command, assuring them of his commitment to the party's ideology. This comes after Singh's comments about mandatory display of names by street vendors sparked criticism and accusations of implementing the Uttar Pradesh model in the state. He has categorically denied these claims and insists that the Himachal government has no intention of following the UP model.
In an interview with PTI, Singh stated that an all-party committee formed by the Himachal Pradesh Speaker will be convening on October 3rd to discuss all aspects of street vending. He emphasized that there is no controversy surrounding the issue on the ground and that it has been exaggerated by the media. Singh has informed Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal about the actual situation and has assured him of the state government's dedication to the party's principles.
Singh's clarification comes in the context of recent events in Himachal Pradesh, including the mosque issue and other protests that have led to concerns about internal security. He explained to Venugopal that the implementation of the 2016 law on urban livelihood needs to be done in a phased manner, considering the law and order situation and the directives of the High Court and Supreme Court. He further emphasized that the government is not against street vendors but is simply seeking to demarcate vending zones and conduct verification for the sake of security.
Addressing the perception that the Uttar Pradesh model is being followed in Himachal Pradesh, Singh stated that the two states have different perspectives and legal frameworks. He clarified that the Himachal government is not implementing the 'UP model' and has its own plan for regulating street vending. The Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh, while supporting the identification of 'outsiders' for security purposes, distanced herself from the ideology and working style of the BJP, reiterating the Congress party's commitment to a different approach.
The Congress party has previously distanced itself from Vikramaditya Singh's initial remarks on mandatory display of names by street vendors. AICC's Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajiv Shukla clarified that vendors would be given licenses and regulated, but there would be no requirement for them to display their names at their stalls. This recent clarification from Singh seems to be an attempt to quell the controversy and reiterate the Congress party's commitment to inclusive and equitable policies.