Chander Kumar Rebukes Neeraj Bharti, Says Congress Discipline Must Be Respected
Writing
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Prof. Chander Kumar on Saturday strongly refuted allegations made by former MLA Neeraj Bharti regarding the functioning of the Congress party, asserting that the remarks neither reflect the party’s official position nor align with its principles of discipline and collective responsibility.
In a statement issued from Shimla, the minister said that while the Congress party respects freedom of expression, internal concerns should be raised through appropriate organisational channels rather than through public platforms. He remarked that Neeraj Bharti, having served as an elected representative and Vice-President of the state Congress unit, was expected to demonstrate greater responsibility and restraint.
Prof. Kumar said public accusations and counter-accusations have not only harmed the party’s image but have also affected Bharti’s own political standing. He described social media as an inappropriate platform for addressing internal party matters.
Defending the performance of the state government, the minister said the Congress administration remains committed to fulfilling its promises and strengthening the rural economy through farmer-centric policies. He highlighted the government’s decision to establish a Kisan Aayog and several initiatives aimed at improving farmers’ incomes and livelihoods.
Listing key achievements, Prof. Kumar pointed to the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana and the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-up Yojana, saying these measures were designed to improve the quality of life across different sections of society.
The minister also highlighted reforms in education, including the introduction of English-medium education from Class I in government schools, the phased establishment of Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools in every Assembly constituency and the opening of 156 CBSE-affiliated schools across the state.
On healthcare, he said the government has introduced advanced medical facilities such as robotic surgery, PET scan services, 3-Tesla MRI and modern CT scan technology, enabling people to access quality treatment within the state.
Prof. Kumar further cited the ‘Apna Parivar-Sukhi Parivar’ scheme, under which extremely poor families are being provided 300 units of free electricity per month, benefiting nearly one lakh households.
He maintained that the government’s welfare-oriented policies and development initiatives are producing visible results on the ground and said the people of Himachal Pradesh continue to express confidence in the government’s leadership and vision.
