Shimla: Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur launched a scathing attack on the Sukhu government, accusing it of misusing public funds and failing to address pressing governance issues.
Speaking at a press conference in Shimla, Thakur criticized the state administration for spending crores on celebrations while employees and pensioners await their dues.
“Government Has ₹25 Crore for Show, But No Money for Salaries”
Thakur hit out at the ₹25 crore spent on the recent Bilaspur event, calling it a "political extravaganza."
He remarked, “This government has enough money for grand celebrations but cannot pay outsourced employees who haven’t received salaries for months. HRTC pensioners are still waiting for their dues. Where are the government’s priorities?”
Corruption and Questionable Deals
Highlighting what he termed blatant corruption, Thakur alleged irregularities in contracts and land allocations.
“A ₹150 crore penalty was waived for a private company. In a construction project, the debris quantities were inflated from 1.74 lakh cubic meters to 3 lakh cubic meters. Such acts raise serious questions about transparency,” he said.
He also accused the government of mismanagement in its liquor policy, claiming it caused massive losses to the state exchequer.
“970 cartons of liquor seized in Bihar were allegedly linked to Congress leaders. Units were restructured, vendors are selling at MLP not MRP, Is this what their so-called new policy aims to achieve, ?” he questioned.
Land Scam Allegations
Thakur didn't spare the government on land allocation issues either. “There’s a 70-kanal land scam involving Congress leaders, and the officials with questionable records are being handed key responsibilities. This reeks of favoritism,” he alleged.
Environmental Negligence
Illegal mining also came under fire, with Thakur criticizing the use of heavy machinery in rivers. “Under the pretense of restoration, rivers like the Beas are being destroyed. This government’s inaction shows its complete disregard for Himachal’s ecology,” he said.
Leadership Tensions Within Congress
Thakur commented on internal discord within the ruling party, claiming Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri’s public frustration over not becoming CM reflects deep fissures.
“Even senior leaders like PCC Chief Pratibha Singh were sidelined and snubbed at the Bilaspur event, showing how divided their leadership is,” he stated.
Unanswered Questions
Before wrapping up, Thakur posed critical questions to the government:
- “Why are outsourced employees and pensioners left without salaries while crores are spent on political events?”
- “Why is the government silent on corruption in contracts and project cost inflation?”
- “What steps are being taken to control illegal mining and restore ecological balance?”
- “Why are central leaders like Priyanka Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge being ignored? Is this a signal of dissent within Congress?”
As the Sukhu government completes two years, Thakur’s allegations have intensified, pressing the administration for transparency and accountability.
The government’s response to these pointed charges remains to be seen.