Chandigarh, May 16
Former Union Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur on Friday said that the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” cannot be achieved without building a “Viksit Himachal”, stressing that the hill state has a crucial role in India’s development journey towards 2047.
Addressing the first annual celebration, “Niyunder”, organised by the World Himachali Organization in Chandigarh, Thakur said Himachalis living across the world are contributing significantly to strengthening India while preserving the state’s rich cultural heritage.
The event was attended by Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta, Lok Sabha MP Rajeev Bhardwaj, and Rajya Sabha MP Sikander Kumar.
“Himachal is not just our birthplace but also our identity, culture, traditions, and family. Along with preserving our heritage, discussions must also focus on the roadmap for Himachal’s development,” Thakur said.
He added that if India aims to become a developed nation by 2047, Himachal Pradesh must also emerge as a developed state within the same timeframe. “The concept of Viksit Bharat cannot be fulfilled without Viksit Himachal,” he said.
Highlighting the unique challenges faced by hill states, Thakur said Himachal requires a balanced approach to environmental conservation and infrastructure development. He noted that the BJP-led Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently focused on separate policy planning for Himalayan states since 2014.
He further said that, compared to earlier years, Himalayan states are now receiving greater financial assistance and improved infrastructure in sectors such as roads, healthcare, education, and energy.
Thakur also credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with envisioning focused development for hill states, adding that the Modi government has carried forward that vision through targeted developmental initiatives.
