Shimla, Aug. 3 -- Criticising the state government for reviving the state lottery system, former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh Prem Kumar Dhumal on Saturday said "this unfortunate decision will only lead Himachal towards ruin". On July 31, the cabinet gave nod to the sale of lotteries in the state to generate revenue. The Opposition BJP is targeting the government, calling the decision "anti-people" and had even announced a protest against it on August 6. Recalling the events that led to the ban in 1999, Dhumalsaid, "Many employees and retirees lost their salary and retirement earnings in lottery gamble. So when I became the CM in 1998, the next year in 1999, our government decided unanimously that the entire lottery system would be closed in Himachal." "This decision was not just a decision, but a far-sighted thought to save the entire state from ruin. At that time, employees of all categories-- retired employees, labourers and youth-- had started buying lottery tickets in large numbers, due to which the salaries of employees, savings of youth, pension of retirees and money of labourers were at stake and many homes were ruined. The lottery was closed in public interest," said Dhumal. He added, "In 2004, the Congress government started the lottery again and after that a complete ban was imposed by the then CM Virbhadra Singh. Perhaps the former CM also understood that the lottery is a curse." Responding to criticism, revenue, horticulture, and tribal development minister Jagat Singh Negi said, "The BJP government in the Centre has already permitted lotteries. Why isn't the Bharatiya Janata Party opposing lotteries in Maharashatra, where they are in power? Why not in the entire Northeast, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, or Punjab all of which have BJP governments?"...