Sonia Gandhi Unveils Statue of Former Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh in Shimla

Sonia Gandhi visited Shimla on Monday after a long gap to attend a ceremony marking the unveiling of a statue of Virbhadra Singh, the six-time Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, at The Ridge.

The event was attended by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajni Patil, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Sachin Pilot, Deepender Hooda, and several senior state Congress leaders.

Thousands of people from across the state gathered to pay tribute to the late leader, affectionately known as “Raja Sahib.”

Holding up a poster of Virbhadra Singh, one attendee said, “Raja Sahib was the greatest leader this state has seen. We are truly happy that his statue now stands proudly at The Ridge.”

For the Singh family and the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi’s presence carried deep emotional and political significance.

“It is a great honour that Sonia Gandhi unveiled the statue,” said a member of the Singh family. “Her presence sends a strong message—not only to Himachal Pradesh but to the entire country—that the Congress never forgets its stalwart leaders. This moment is a matter of pride for both our family and the party.”

Although Sonia Gandhi has largely refrained from attending public events in recent years, she made a special trip to Shimla for this occasion.