Shimla, March 27, 2026:
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu over his recent remarks on the Himcare scheme, demanding a public apology from him in the Assembly as well as across the state.
Speaking to the media after protests by BJP legislators in the Assembly, Thakur accused the Chief Minister of misleading the House regarding alleged irregularities in the Himcare scheme. He said it was “unfortunate” that the CM admitted his statement was incorrect and sought its removal from the Assembly records after being confronted.
Thakur asserted that the people of Himachal Pradesh would not forgive attempts to defame a welfare scheme that provided free treatment to lakhs of beneficiaries. He added that the scheme was once appreciated at the national level, with its model showcased before chief ministers across the country.
Highlighting data, Thakur said that during the previous government’s tenure, nearly 3.98 lakh patients were treated under Himcare with an expenditure of ₹442 crore. He questioned how allegations of a ₹1,100 crore scam could arise when the total spending itself was significantly lower.
He further claimed that the average treatment cost per patient has increased from ₹11,000 during the previous government to ₹14,000 under the current administration, alleging irregularities in medicine procurement and contracts.
The BJP leader demanded a comprehensive probe into the scheme from its inception till date by a sitting judge of the High Court, instead of a vigilance inquiry, to ensure transparency.
Thakur also criticized the state government’s handling of fuel pricing, contrasting it with the Centre’s decision to reduce import duties on petroleum products. He termed the Centre’s move as “pro-people,” while calling the state’s diesel cess “anti-people” and urged the Himachal government to roll it back to provide relief to citizens.
