He said that had Virbhadra been a true custodian of Dalits, he would have never rushed to the Election Commission. Dhumal lambasted the former chief minister for indulging in discrimination with tribal areas.

He remarked that if the former chief minister had sincerely cared for the residents of Kinnnaur, he would have shifted the offices of PWD, Land Acquisition, Irrigation, Public Health and the District and Sessions Judge Court from Rampur to Rekong Peo. The BJP leader regretted that when the 25 per cent rise in the daily wages of labourers working in the tribal areas was restored through an announcement on April 15 by him, Virbhadra complained to the EC, charging the government with violating the model code of conduct. He said the code of conduct was never in force on April 15.

When asked to comment on the transfer of the state capital, Dhumal clarified that the capital would not be shifted from Shimla to Sundernagar and this was not included in the party manifesto. ``The government would leave no stone unturned to provide regular flights to the tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti during chilly winters,'' the Chief Minister commented.

He revealed that a propossal had been taken up for a tie-up with Pawan Hans to take their helicopter on hire basis to gear up service to Lahaul valley and Pangi.

Dhumal assured that the government would continue to provide support price to apple growers in the state. He maintained that his government was expediting its efforts to provide packing cases for apples to the orchardists so that the growers would not face any problem in the transportation of apples to the markets.

``The BJP-HVC combine was against any division of the state on caste, region and language basis and was committed in creating a congenial atmosphere,'' the Chief Minister claimed. He thundered that the ruling combine would inflict a crushing defeat to the Congress in the by-election to the Mandi LS seat and four Assembly constituencies of Paragpur, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Bharmaur.

Later, the Chief Minister was given a rousing reception by the residents of Bhuntar, Shamshi, Mohal, Pirdi, Kullu, Bashing, Babeli, Raison and Patli Khul villages. Prominent among those who received him at Bhuntar airport were Kunj Lal Thakur, former BJP RS MP Maheshwer Singh, Minister of State for Primary Education Karan Singh, state BJYM chief Jai Ram Thakur MLA, senior leader Khimi Ram Sharma and Chander Sen, local MLA.