New district demand: Pathania refuses to back down

The war of words over demand to make Nurpur a district took an aggressive turn on Thursday with Independent MLA Rakesh Pathania refusing go call off a proposed dharna outside Deputy Commissioner’s office at Dharamshala on April 27.

Considered close to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,Pathania said,“My dharna plan to put pressure on the government to declare Nurpur as district remains unchanged. We will hold a peaceful protest and hand over a memorandum to the DC.”

However,he said that following an appeal by BJP state president Satpal Satti,he won’t burn effigies of Cabinet Minister Krishan Kapoor,who has been opposing opposing the demand for creation of the new district and trifurcation of Kangra.

Pathania claimed that a section of the ruling BJP in state were for creation of the new district.