Congress main rival in polls
THE WEEK India|August 21, 2022
THE HIMACHAL PRADESH assembly elections, scheduled to be held in November, are likely to witness a triangular contest, a first for the state.
PRATUL SHARMA
Congress main rival in polls

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party are making massive efforts to unseat the BJP. With just four months to go, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is busy touring the state to hard sell his government’s achievements. THE WEEK caught up with Thakur while he was in Delhi to attend the recent NITI Aayog meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Excerpts from an interview:

Q/As chief minister, what has been your biggest challenge and achievement?

A/The biggest challenge has been Covid-19, which impacted the economy, and [during which the] working period was curtailed. The speed of the targeted projects was disturbed a bit. [But] despite Covid-19, we handled the economy very well; we were the first state to administer the first and the second dose [of the vaccine]. We have been successful to a great extent in completing all the new initiatives we started, and have achieved the target of bringing in private sector investment.

Q/India is celebrating 75 years of independence. What does this mean for Himachal Pradesh?

A/We celebrated 50 years of statehood last year. Now, we will celebrate 75 years of organisation. (In April 1948, the chief commissioner’s province of Himachal Pradesh came into being.) We have planned 75 events in all 68 assembly constituencies, wherein we will talk about Himachal’s journey... especially [to] the younger generation. At that time, the literacy rate was a mere 4.2 per cent; it is now 83 per cent. There were only 228km of roads; now it is more than 39,500km. For all this, the credit goes to the people of the state and not to any leader.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 21, 2022 من THE WEEK India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 21, 2022 من THE WEEK India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE WEEK INDIA مشاهدة الكل
A golden girl
THE WEEK India

A golden girl

One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 29, 2024
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
THE WEEK India

The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India

The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 29, 2024
United in the states
THE WEEK India

United in the states

Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds

time-read
5 mins  |
September 29, 2024
COVER DRIVE
THE WEEK India

COVER DRIVE

Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits

time-read
3 mins  |
September 29, 2024
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
THE WEEK India

GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical

Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:

time-read
2 mins  |
September 29, 2024
India is not a controlling big brother
THE WEEK India

India is not a controlling big brother

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 29, 2024
Comrade with no foes
THE WEEK India

Comrade with no foes

Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!

time-read
2 mins  |
September 29, 2024
Pinning down saffron
THE WEEK India

Pinning down saffron

In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana

time-read
4 mins  |
September 29, 2024
MAKE IN MANIPUR
THE WEEK India

MAKE IN MANIPUR

Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict

time-read
5 mins  |
September 29, 2024
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
THE WEEK India

SAHEB LOSES STEAM

Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock

time-read
5 mins  |
September 29, 2024