Shimla, August 5: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday staged a large-scale protest in Shimla against the Himachal Pradesh Congress government, accusing it of political vendetta, corruption, deteriorating law and order, and misuse of the police and administrative machinery.
The demonstration was led by Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and presided over by BJP state president Dr. Rajeev Bindal. Thousands of party workers, elected representatives and supporters from across the state participated in the protest before marching towards the Chief Minister’s official residence, Oakover, where they held a sit-in and raised slogans against the state government.
Addressing the gathering, Thakur alleged that the Congress government had stalled development works and welfare schemes after assuming office and was attempting to suppress political opposition through false criminal cases. He claimed the government had delayed Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections because it anticipated an adverse electoral outcome, adding that the BJP had secured the polls only after a legal battle.
He said the results of the local body elections reflected growing public dissatisfaction with the Congress government and alleged that BJP leaders, elected representatives and their family members were being targeted through politically motivated FIRs. Thakur also claimed that journalists and citizens critical of the government were facing action, calling it an attack on democratic values and freedom of expression.
The former Chief Minister said the BJP would raise these issues during the upcoming Assembly session beginning August 21, while simultaneously intensifying its public campaign across the state. He also expressed concern over recent criminal incidents, alleging that the law and order situation in Himachal Pradesh had worsened.
Dr. Rajeev Bindal announced that the protest marked the beginning of a statewide agitation, with demonstrations to be organised every month in every Assembly constituency and Mandal. He accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its key election promises, including financial assistance for women, employment generation and welfare measures.
Bindal alleged that the government had discontinued several schemes launched during the previous BJP regime and had burdened people through higher prices of electricity, diesel, cement and other essentials. He said the BJP would launch an extensive public outreach campaign to highlight what it described as the failures of the state government.
The protest concluded with BJP leaders and workers pledging to continue their agitation against the Congress government, saying the movement would continue across Himachal Pradesh in the coming months.
