Sukhu Govt’s 118 Move Sparks Political Storm — BJP Says Bureaucrats Selling Himachal’s Soul to Real Estate Sharks
Shimla, October 25:
The Sukhu government’s plan to “simplify” Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972 has set off a political storm. The Opposition BJP says this is not reform — it’s a sellout.
The law, once seen as the shield of Himachaliyat, is now being loosened to favour big business.
Bureaucrats from outside the state, backed by the Chief Minister’s inner circle, are allegedly driving the move.
“This is not simplification — it’s surrender,” said a senior BJP functionary.
Sources allege that the push comes from a bureaucratic lobby led by former Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, adviser Ram Subhag Singh, and present CS Sanjay Gupta.
“They’re scripting policies to open the floodgates for land and real estate sharks already eyeing Himachal’s fragile hills,”.
Legacy Law Under Fire
Section 118 — a cornerstone of Himachal’s identity — was introduced by Dr. Y.S. Parmar, the state’s founding Chief Minister.
It bars non-agriculturists and outsiders from freely buying land in Himachal without government permission.
Successive leaders and CMs — Virbhadra Singh, Shanta Kumar, Thakur Ram Lal, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, and Jai Ram Thakur — all respected that legacy. None dared to tamper with it.
Tourism, home-stays, and horticulture thrived in many parts of Himachal because locals were protected under Section 118 and were encouraged to take individual initiatives that develop the Apple industry into a robust Rs 5000 economy and off-season vegetables a even a bigger sustainable source of income for farmers.
Now the Sukhu government wants to dismantle this balance under the Samridh Himachal-2045 vision — a document drafted to make Himachal Samridh in 20 years time scale, reveal insiders.
Saxena at various forums had stated that Section 118 is the stumbling block in progress of Himachal, a hollow claim that is contrary to the facts.
‘Mafia Raj in Policy Rooms’
Jai Ram Thakur accused the government of being run by “mafias and middlemen.”
“First they legalized betting and gambling under pressure. Now they are putting the state’s land, culture, and identity up for auction,” he said.
He claimed that the government tried to sell 40 hectares of Palampur Agriculture University land to private businessmen — a deal that was stayed only after court intervention.
“This government is working for its friends, not for the farmers,” he added.
Thakur further alleged that the Sukhu regime had prepared a “blueprint” to sell 20 prime hotels and state properties to its corporate allies.
“The loot has begun under the garb of reform. Mafia rule has entered policy rooms,” he charged.
Opposition Warns of Agitation
“The BJP will not tolerate even the slightest dilution of Section 118,” warned Thakur.
“If the Chief Minister dares to fiddle with it, we’ll take to the streets. Himachal’s land is not for sale.”
He said the government must remember that Section 118 isn’t just a law — it’s a promise to protect farmers, small landholders, and the environment.
“We will defend that promise at any cost,” he said.
Parmar’s Vision vs. Sukhu’s Experiment
Critics say the move mocks the vision of Dr. Y.S. Parmar, who built Himachal on the foundation of self-reliance and local ownership.
Parmar protected Himachal from exploitation. Tweaking of Section 118 is a move that will dismantle that legacy.
Ease of doing business cannot mean ease of selling Himachal. If Section 118 falls, so will Himachaliyat itself.
The critics are watching the next move of the government as to what it intends to do.
Will it go for amendment of Section 118, bypassing government’s permission? The pressure on the government is mounting.
#HimachalPolitics #Section118 #JaiRamThakur #SukhuGovernment #SaveHimachal #LandLaws #RealEstateLobby #DrYSParmarLegacy
