By IANS,
Shimla : On the occasion of Independence Day Saturday, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal lauded the state’s “significant contribution to the armed forces”, saying that 52 defence personnel from the state had laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan.
“The state has been contributing significantly to the armed forces. More than 120,000 people of the state are serving in the armed forces. During the Kargil War, 52 defence personnel from this state made the supreme sacrifice,” Dhumal said at the Independence Day function held at Fatehpur town.
The chief minister, who took the salute at a march past, also paid floral tributes to the state’s war heroes and martyrs.
Dhumal said the state had scripted a new chapter in planned development.
“The literacy percentage and per capita income is much higher than the national average. Our emphasis is on improving socio-economic conditions of the people in rural areas where more than 90 percent population of the state lives.
“Steps are being taken to provide road connectivity to all villages having a population of 250 or above by 2012,” he said.
He gave the credit for development to the hardworking and honest people of the state.
Chief parliamentary secretaries Virender Kanwar and Satpal Satti unfurled the national flag in tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur respectively.
Braving inclement weather, hundreds of people turned out to attend the functions in these districts.