August31
Shimla: A series of state-level marathon meetings of the Bharatiya Janata Party were held at the BJP State Headquarters, Deepkamal, Chakkar, Shimla, under the chairmanship of BJP State President Dr. Rajeev Bindal.
Former BJP National Secretary Om Prakash Dhankhar, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, State In-charge Shrikant Sharma, Co-in-charge Sanjay Tandon, State General Secretary (Organisation) Siddharthan, former ministers Bikram Thakur, Suresh Bhardwaj and Satpal Satti, MP Dr. Rajeev Bhardwaj, and senior leaders Suresh Chandel, Shishu Dharma and Payal Vaidya, among others, were present.
In the first phase, a state-level workshop was organised for the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, which will be observed from September 17 to October 17, 2026, to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of service as Chief Minister and Prime Minister. This was followed by a meeting of BJP state office-bearers from 3:00 PM onwards.
Addressing a press conference, Dr. Bindal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will complete 25 years of service as Chief Minister and Prime Minister on October 7. He said that throughout these years, PM Modi has placed service at the centre of his public life and worked for every section of society.
‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ from September 17 to October 17
Dr. Bindal said the nationwide campaign would begin on Prime Minister Modi’s birthday on September 17 and continue until October 17. The objective would be to inspire citizens to dedicate themselves to service and simultaneously take a pledge to contribute towards the vision of a Developed India by 2047.
He said that on September 17, people would be encouraged to light a ‘Diya of Seva’ in their homes, symbolising their commitment to public service and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Blood donation camps will also be organised across Himachal Pradesh under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. The party will endeavour to mobilise blood donation according to the requirements and capacity of blood banks across the state.
Dr. Bindal said painting and speech competitions would be organised for children on themes such as “My India—How it was, how it is, and how we envision it in 2047.” Programmes focusing on service, transformation over the past 25 years and the vision of a developed India would also be organised.
Under the theme ‘My Contribution to Seva’, BJP workers and citizens would participate in cleanliness drives, blood donation camps, medical service activities, service at orphanages and old-age homes, water conservation, plantation drives and several other social initiatives. Women would also organise rangoli programmes based on PM Modi’s life, his commitment to service and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
BJP to hold agitations at 170 locations in September
Launching a sharp attack on the Congress Government, Dr. Bindal said the BJP had announced in July that it would launch public movements over local issues throughout August.
He said the party organised agitations at 121 locations across the state during August, raising issues including damaged roads, stalled development works, unfulfilled Congress guarantees and other local problems.
In addition, 17 district-level demonstrations were held to highlight the problems faced by unemployed youth and to question the Congress Government over the employment promises made before the Assembly elections.
Dr. Bindal announced that the BJP would further intensify its campaign in September by organising public agitations at 170 locations over local issues. The party would also hold 17 district-level protests focusing on issues concerning women and the promises made to them by Congress.
“The Congress came to power on the strength of false guarantees. Youth, women and other sections of society were shown big dreams, but after coming to power, the Government failed to fulfil its commitments,” he said.
Congress must answer on employment guarantees
Dr. Bindal said Congress had made major promises regarding government employment before coming to power, but even after nearly four years, educated unemployed youth were still waiting for jobs.
He claimed that 1.07 lakh posts are vacant in the State Government and alleged that the promises regarding permanent, pensionable government employment had not been fulfilled.
He said that as the election year approaches, Congress would once again attempt to mislead people in the name of guarantees, but the people of Himachal Pradesh were now fully aware of the Government’s performance.
“The BJP will go from village to village, panchayat to panchayat and district to district and seek an account of every guarantee made by the Congress,” he said.
Congress Government attacking financial autonomy of Panchayats
Dr. Bindal strongly criticised the State Government over the issue of Panchayati Raj institutions. He alleged that after its approach towards Panchayat elections, the Government was now attempting to interfere with the financial powers of elected Panchayats.
He said that after funds under the 16th Finance Commission began reaching Panchayats for development works, meetings of Panchayat Pradhans were being convened by BDOs following directions from the Finance Department, with instructions to deposit 50% of the funds with the IPH and PWD departments.
“This is a direct attempt to curtail the powers of Panchayati Raj institutions and elected representatives. The BJP strongly condemns it and will not allow the rights of Panchayats to be undermined at any cost,” Dr. Bindal said.
He maintained that funds allocated to Panchayats for development should be utilised by elected Panchayat representatives according to prescribed rules and local development priorities.
PM Modi’s tenure transformed Himachal’s development landscape
Dr. Bindal said Himachal Pradesh had received unprecedented development support during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure.
He stated that nearly 20,000 km of roads had been constructed in Himachal under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, of which around 15,000 km were built during the Modi Government’s tenure.
He also highlighted four-lane highway projects, the Atal Tunnel Rohtang, strengthening of Border Roads Organisation roads and expansion of railway connectivity as major contributions of the Modi Government.
Dr. Bindal said schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jan Dhan and insurance schemes had benefited lakhs of families in Himachal Pradesh.
He also cited the establishment of AIIMS Bilaspur, the Indian Institute of Management and financial support for medical colleges, trauma centres, cancer care and other healthcare infrastructure as major achievements.
Dr. Bindal further said that restoration of the 90:10 funding pattern for Himachal Pradesh in Centrally Sponsored Schemes had brought substantial financial benefits to the state and accelerated development.
‘Lottery system unacceptable at any cost’
Taking on the Congress Government over its move to revive the lottery system, Dr. Bindal said the State Government could not put the social and economic well-being of Himachali families at risk merely to generate additional revenue.
He said the lottery system had earlier been discontinued after considering its adverse impact on families and society, and the decision had been taken during the tenure of former Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal after due consideration.
“The Chief Minister cannot push the people of Himachal into a trap merely to earn some revenue. A system that can destroy families cannot be justified in the name of increasing government income. The people of Himachal Pradesh and the BJP will not accept the lottery system at any cost,” Dr. Bindal said.
He said the Congress Government should focus on sustainable avenues of revenue generation through development, tourism, investment, industries and employment instead of reviving a system that could have serious social consequences.
Dr. Bindal said the coming month would simultaneously be a period of service, social responsibility and commitment towards Viksit Bharat 2047, as well as a period in which the BJP would intensify its democratic struggle to hold the Congress Government accountable for its guarantees and governance.
