Mandi: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur launched a sharp attack on the ruling Congress government during a BJP district-level workshop and awareness campaign in Mandi, accusing it of indulging in “rumors, blatant lies, and systematic misinformation” to mislead the public.
Targeting the government led by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Thakur alleged that the state administration was spreading confusion over the intensive revision of voter lists and the Centre’s flagship “Developed India – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission – Rural” scheme. He claimed the Sukhu government was distorting facts about the Union Budget and central policies to hide its “administrative failures, stalled development works, and economic mismanagement.”
The event, held in Mandi, was attended by several BJP leaders, including MLA Anil Sharma, District President Nihal Chand Sharma, District Incharge Baldev Bhandari, Co-Incharge Bhimsen Sharma, Mayor Virendra Bhatt, State Spokesperson Ajay Rana, and Pal Verma. Party workers resolved to launch a grassroots campaign to counter what they termed as Congress “propaganda.”
‘Stop Blaming the Centre’
In an informal media interaction, Thakur criticized the Chief Minister for “repeatedly targeting” the central government and BJP MPs. He urged Sukhu to focus instead on addressing Himachal Pradesh’s economic challenges.
Responding to Sukhu’s remarks in Bilaspur regarding presenting the state’s case for the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), Thakur said he was ready to accompany the Chief Minister to Delhi anytime in the state’s interest. However, he added that the CM must first learn to effectively present the state’s case before the Centre.
Thakur pointed out that the phasing out of the RDG was in line with Finance Commission recommendations and asserted that the latest Union Budget offers significant benefits to hill states, including a “historic 10 percent increase” in the state’s tax share. He accused the Congress government of backtracking on its poll guarantees and deflecting accountability by blaming the Centre.
Emotional Tribute: Thakur Breaks Down Remembering Saraj Tragedy
Later in the day, an emotional moment unfolded at the Seraj Student Welfare Association’s annual function “Aadyant” at Sanskrit Sadan in Mandi. As chief guest, Thakur became visibly moved while recalling the devastating natural disaster that struck Saraj on June 29, 2025.
With tears in his eyes, he described it as “a dark night in the history of Saraj,” noting that 33 lives were lost and 22 people remain missing. Sharing his anguish, he assured the youth that he remains committed to rebuilding Saraj and restoring it to the path of development.
Appealing to the younger generation for support, Thakur expressed confidence that with collective strength, cultural values, and determination, Saraj would once again emerge as an “ideal area” in Himachal Pradesh.
