'Party Line Important, But...': Vikramaditya On Himachal 'Nameplate' Controversy, Says 'Statements Misinterpreted'

Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh had announced that it would be mandatory for street vendors to display their identity cards at their shops, leading to a controversy.

Amid a controversy over the nameplate controversy for Himachal street vendors, state minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday said his recent statements have been misinterpreted and clarified that he was not summoned to Delhi. 

The statement comes after the Himachal minister Vikramaditya met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday amid a row over Singh's recent remarks that it would be mandatory for street vendors to display their identity cards at their shops.

"The statement that I made was misrepresented and linked to a similar (order) that was imposed on communal lines in another state. Whatever I said was within the Constitutional lines. My trip to Delhi was pre-scheduled. The reports saying that I was summoned to Delhi are not true," the Congress minister said.

He said that though party line is important, raising the voice of the people of the state is also top priority. 

"The party line is important for us. But raising the voice of the people in the state is also our top priority. I am a committed worker of the Congress party. I will work to advance the core principles of the Congress party. I have presented the series of events that unfolded in the past days before the media," he further said. 

After Vikramaditya's nameplate announcement, the Himachal Pradesh government later clarified that no such decision was taken. 

Vikramaditya Singh also said that anyone from any state can come and work in Himachal, regardless of their religion or caste. 

"There are a lot of Tibetans who reside in Himachal and are operating their shops here. Anyone can come here to work. The only thing to be done is registration to maintain the internal security of the state... There is nothing more than this in the matter," he added.

What Led To 'Nameplate' Controversy In Himachal?

Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh had announced in a media briefing that it would be mandatory for street vendors, especially those selling food items, to display their identity cards at their shops.

The decision was inspired by a similar directive announced by the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, according to the minister. Singh had said the decision was taken considering apprehensions expressed by several locals about the rising numbers of migrants in the state. 

The state government however clarified in a statement that it had not taken any decision which made it mandatory for the street vendors to display nameplates or other identification at their stalls.

The Congress' Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajiv Shukla said that he had discussed the issue with Singh and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and said that the vendors will be given licences and regulated so that police do not harass them. The designated places will require identification such as Aadhaar cards and licences but there is no requirement for them to display a sign stating their name as the owner, Shukla told reporters in Jammu last Thursday.