In brief

Virbhadra: Shun regionalism
Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh was in Shimla on Friday to attend a function organised by the Jubbal-Kotkhai Student Association at Gaiety Theatre. Addressing the gathering,he called upon the youth of the state not to get involved in the conflicts of regionalism. This was his first visit to Gaiety,which was inaugurated earlier this year after renovation,and he did not forget to claim credit for the refurbished theatre. “The renovation was started during the Congress tenure. The BJP government only inaugurated it,” said Virbhadra.

Hamirpur cricket stadium ready
The cricket stadium at Amtar in Hamirpur district,first in the series of the 12 stadia proposed by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association,was dedicated to the public on Friday. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal inaugurated the Rs 5-crore stadium named after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Spread over a 117-kanal area,the stadium can seat more than 3,000 spectators. HPCA president and Lok Sabha member Anurag Thakur and this capacity would be increased later.