Shimla, August 1:
BJP state president Dr. Rajiv Bindal came down heavily on the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government on Friday, accusing it of leading the state into "moral and economic ruin" by reopening the lottery business in Himachal Pradesh.
In a press conference held in Shimla, Bindal, flanked by Suresh Bhardwaj and Balbir Verma said, “After chitta (heroin), liquor and bhang, now the Congress government wants to push unemployed youth into the trap of lottery addiction — all for a meagre Rs 30 to 40 crore revenue.”
Calling it a “dangerous gamble with people’s future,” Bindal said the government, instead of generating real employment, is “selling dreams through scratch cards.”
“What an irony — this government came to power promising one lakh jobs in the first cabinet itself. That announcement is still painted on village walls across Himachal and saved in people’s mobiles.
Priyanka Gandhi herself promised 1 lakh jobs and 67,000 vacancies. Now, after 2.5 years, they’ve found a new drama — 2-year apprenticeships with no clarity, no outcome.”
He alleged the Congress had deceived the youth by replacing real employment with “cheap gimmicks.” “The only job the Sukhu government is offering now is: buy a lottery ticket and pray for luck!”
Criticizing the entire cabinet, Bindal added, “It’s not just the Chief Minister — this collective decision reflects the bankruptcy of ideas among all ministers.
This is not governance. It’s mockery. It’s shameful that the entire cabinet sat together and thought that selling lottery tickets was the way to fix unemployment.”
Bindal accused the Congress government of violating public trust, noting that even previous Congress governments had banned the lottery business.
“In 2000 it was shut down by the Dhumal Government. Even in 2007 then CM Virbhadra Singh had refused to revive it. Why is Sukhu doing this now?”
He said the BJP government under Prem Kumar Dhumal had completely banned lotteries, understanding the social damage they caused. “We stand by that decision. When BJP returns to power, we will shut it down again.”
On the issue of disaster relief, Bindal alleged that while the state is chest-thumping over central assistance, the real credit goes to the Modi government.
“The Centre approved over ₹7,513 crore for disaster relief, road repair, and housing for the poor. But the state’s contribution is negligible — not even ₹100 crore. Yet, they are spending crores on advertisements.”
He also raised the issue of illegal liquor contracts on PWD land and questioned the government’s priorities. “You can see liquor shops on national highways, on PWD land, everywhere. This is not development — this is destruction.”
Lashing out further, Bindal said, “Instead of filling up the nearly 30,000 government posts vacated due to retirement, they are cutting the salary head by 25% and dismantling institutions.
Nearly 50 to 1,000 sanctioned posts have been abolished in health and education. Even schools are being shut down in remote areas. Children are now forced to travel long distances with help from private individuals just to access basic education.”
Bindal warned that BJP will launch a state-wide movement against this decision.
“From public awareness campaigns to street protests — we are ready. We will not allow Himachal’s youth to be sacrificed at the altar of Congress’s incompetence.”
Reiterating the party's commitment, Bindal concluded, “The BJP will reopen all the closed institutions — schools, patwar circles, medical centers — as soon as it returns to power. We will give real jobs, not fake guarantees and lottery tickets.”
