SHIMLA:  Launching NDA's Presidential campaign from Baddi in the poll-bound state of Himachal Pradesh today its candidate Smt Draupadi Murmu said Himachal is the land of spirituality and tourism as it is known as Dev Bhoomi across the country.

After getting a rousing reception at Baddi during the felicitation ceremony for launch of the campaign in her support organised by the BJP, Smt Draupadi Murmu  paid tribute to all the Param Vir Chakra winners and other heroes of Himachal.

She paid tributes to the brave son of Himachal  Major Somnath Sharma, who hailed from  Kangra,  country's first Param Vir Chakra winner, invoking tradition of soldiery in  Virbhoomi in a bid to strike a chord with over 2 lakh soldiers and ex-soldiers of the state.  

The ex-servicemen and the serving soldiers have given a mixed response to the newly launched Agniveer scheme to recruit Agniveer in the armed forces in the country.

The opposition parties including Congress and AAP have been opposing the Agnivir scheme in the state and country as whole by staging demonstrations.   

This is in this backdrop that BJP chose the poll-bound Veerbhoomi  for launch of the Presidential campaign.    

Draupadi further said the history and tradition of Himachal has been very glorious. Himachal is today showing the way to the country in various parameters of development, she added.

She urged people to work unitedly to make our country a prosperous nation. Her aim is to ensure the upliftment of the people by working towards infrastructure development at the grassroots level, she said.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Union Information and Broadcasting and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, members of the state cabinet, Union Minister of State Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Arjun Singh Meghwal, MPs and BJP MLAs from the state accorded a grand welcome and felicitation to Smt. Draupadi Murmu of NDA and other supporting parties at a function organized at Baddi in Solan district today.

 Jai Ram Thakur while welcoming the NDA's Presidential candidate said the victory of Smt. Draupadi Murmu is certain. Selection of Smt. Draupadi Murmu for the post of President is a reflection of the positive and holistic thinking of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Jai Ram Thakur said BJP has always been committed for the unity and welfare of all sections of the society and the selection of Smt. Draupadi Murmu for the post of President will further strengthen the nationalist ideology.

He said that Smt. Draupadi Murmu has set an excellent example for all sections of the society through her life. BJP is a true well-wisher of all sections of the society, he said.

The efforts of Smt. Draupadi Murmu's in the direction of development of tribal areas, education of girls and balanced development of all sections of the society are highly commendable, said Chief Minister.

Speaking at the function Union Information and Broadcasting and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur congratulated Smt Draupadi Murmu on being selected as the Presidential candidate. He expressed his gratitude to the Presidential candidate for starting her election campaign from Himachal.

Anurag Singh Thakur said selection of a woman belonging to a tribal community for the election of the President is a reflection of BJP’s progressive thinking.

Union Minister of State Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, Arjun Singh Meghwal, while welcoming the Presidential candidate detailed about the value of vote in the Presidential election.

He said value of the vote of an MLA of Himachal Pradesh in the Presidential election is 51 and that of an MP is 700.

Shimla Lok Sabha Constituency MP and BJP State President Suresh Kashyap welcomed Presidential candidate on her arrival in Himachal.

He said  the life of Smt. Draupadi Murmu is a source of inspiration for all. He thanked the top leadership of the BJP for making a woman belonging to the tribal community the Presidential candidate of the country.

Urban Development, Town and Country Planning Minister Suresh Bhardwaj presented a detailed introduction of the political life of Presidential candidate Smt. Draupadi Murmu.

Speaker HP Vidhan Sabha Vipin Singh Parmar, Deputy Speaker Hans Raj, Bharatiya Janata Party's National Mahila Morcha President and MP from Tamil Nadu Vanati Srinivasan, BJP's National Secretary Ritu Raj Sinha, Rajya Sabha MP Indu Goswami and Dr. Sikandar, State BJP MLAs and Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Trilok Jamwal were also present on the occasion.