Shimla, Jun 10 (IANS): Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & IT and Law & Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday complemented Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur for being adjudged as the 'Best Chief Minister' of the country by an independent agency -- the IANS-C Voter State of the Nation 2020 Survey.

He said, this speaks of the hard work and dedication the Chief Minister was putting in for making the state the most developed in the country.

Addressing a virtual rally from New Delhi, the Union Law Minister said the coronavirus pandemic had proved that the country was safe under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said 15 countries worst affected by the virus had a total population of 142 crore and they reported 404,396 deaths.

On the other hand, India has a population of 137 crore and till date saw 7,745 deaths.

He said this was due to the timely decision of lockdown by the Prime Minister.

The Union government has not only announced a Rs 1.70 lakh crore package for the poor but has also announced world's biggest economic package of Rs 20 lakh crore for the revival of the economy impacted due to the pandemic.

He said Rs 11 lakh crore has been transferred in bank accounts of the poor under various schemes in six years.

Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur also participated in the virtual rally from Delhi.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the state government has completed two and a half years of its tenure on May 27. This tenure has been full of achievements and accomplishments. He said the credit of this goes to the people of the state.

Chief Minister's Political Advisor Trilok Jamwal said about two lakh users have been connected through various modes of communication in this first virtual rally.

He detailed historic decisions taken by the Union government during the last six years. He thanked party workers for extending their support to the state to fight the COVID pandemic.