Kangra/Jaisinghpur ,21 September
Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur on Monday targeted the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government while addressing a felicitation ceremony for newly elected representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions in the Jaisinghpur Assembly constituency.
Thakur alleged that the state government had sought to avoid Panchayati Raj elections by citing the disaster situation and claimed that the BJP had approached the High Court and subsequently the Supreme Court to ensure that elections were held. He said elections had been conducted even during the COVID-19 pandemic during the previous BJP government, arguing that the grassroots institutions of democracy could not be left in the hands of government officials such as panchayat secretaries, junior engineers and draftsmen.
Thakur also claimed that the Congress faced a poor outcome in the Panchayati Raj elections and alleged that differences had emerged within the ruling party. He accused the government of taking action against elected representatives at different levels out of what he described as a “politics of vendetta.”
Thakur Questions New Chief Minister’s Office
Commenting on the inauguration of the new Chief Minister’s Office, Thakur questioned the expenditure on the facility at a time when the state government was citing financial constraints. He said successive Chief Ministers, including Dr Y.S. Parmar, Ram Lal, Virbhadra Singh, Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal and himself, had functioned from the existing office and launched public welfare schemes and development initiatives from there.
Thakur claimed that his government had introduced or expanded schemes including Sahara, Shagun, Himcare, Grihini Suvidha and Swavalamban, while alleging that the present government had closed institutions and schemes and stalled development works.He questioned the need for a new office when, according to him, the government was facing an economic crisis. He claimed that the new office was being constructed at a cost of around ₹50 crore.
“Power Went Out on Inauguration Day”
Taking a further dig at the new office, Thakur said that electricity went out during the inauguration itself, describing it as an “inauspicious beginning.”He alleged that the government was spending on a new office while simultaneously withdrawing facilities, closing institutions and slowing development works across the state.
Thakur also alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was frustrated by repeated unsuccessful “launching” attempts and said the time had come for the Gandhi family to leave the Congress.The statements were made by Jairam Thakur while addressing the gathering in Jaisinghpur and constitute his political criticism of the state government.
