Shimla: Setting an aggressive tone in the ongoing Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, senior BJP MLA and former state party president Satpal Singh Satti launched a blistering attack on forest mafias, the growing “chitta” menace, and alleged complicity of some corrupt police and forest personnel.
Intervening during the debate, Satti painted a grim picture of organized timber smuggling, claiming that as many as 30 truckloads of illegal wood were being transported out of Himachal to Punjab.
“These are not small vehicles—these are big trucks. This is not a one-day story; it’s happening every day. Where are the check-posts? Where is the monitoring?” Satti questioned.
He alleged that huge quantities of illegally felled timber were being hidden underground using JCBs and even dumped into rivers like the Beas to evade detection.
“You cannot imagine—such massive stockpiles of wood are not even seen in forest depots these days. Thousands of logs are buried and hidden. This is organized loot of our forests,” he said.
Raising serious concerns over enforcement, Satti did not mince words in calling out sections of the forest and police.
“It is shameful that when such cases come to light, some police personnel are found involved. Not all are corrupt, but those who are must be dealt with strictly,” he asserted, demanding accountability and strict action.
The BJP leader also took aim at political patronage, questioning why “big leaders” shield individuals allegedly involved in illegal activities.
“If someone is doing wrong, it harms the entire system—be it BJP or Congress. No party gains from protecting wrongdoers,” he remarked.
Switching focus to the drug menace, Satti highlighted the alarming spread of ‘chitta’ (heroin abuse) in the state, linking it to rising youth deaths.
“Children as young as 17–18 years are dying. In some cases, even younger. Bodies are being found after days. This is not just a law-and-order issue—it’s a social disaster,” he warned.
He expressed anguish over incidents where missing children were later found dead, alleging deep-rooted networks behind drug trafficking.
“How far has this rot gone? This should shake all of us,” Satti said, urging the government to act decisively.
Calling for merit-based appointments rather than political considerations, he said:
“Whether BJP or Congress, people should be appointed based on their ability to deliver, not political affiliation.”
Satti’s hard-hitting intervention has set the stage for a larger crackdown narrative in the Assembly—targeting forest mafias, drug cartels, and the alleged nexus involving certain corrupt officials.
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