CM Sukhu Challenges BJP on OPS and Development, Highlights Congress Government’s Progress.
Shimla:
In a powerful address to a large public gathering at Bakhli in Seraj Assembly constituency of Mandi district, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched a scathing attack on the opposition BJP, highlighting their failures in governance while reiterating the Congress government’s commitment to the welfare of the common people. The Chief Minister also outlined key achievements and ongoing initiatives, asserting that the state government would fulfill its seven major guarantees by December 11.
CM Sukhu wasted no time in taking aim at former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, accusing him of failing to ensure basic healthcare infrastructure in the state. He specifically pointed to the BJP government’s failure to install an MRI machine at Ner Chowk Hospital, turning the facility into a referral center instead of a fully-equipped hospital. Sukhu emphasized that the current Congress government was prioritizing the real needs of the people and had already initiated numerous welfare schemes to address them.
Sukhu further highlighted the Congress government’s focus on public service, stating that all Cabinet Ministers were working tirelessly to address the needs of the people. He reiterated the government’s commitment to resolving issues left by the previous BJP administration, including the dissolution of the Subordinate Services Selection Commission in Hamirpur following allegations of corruption and paper leaks. The CM expressed his strong stance against corruption and stated that he would not allow the youth’s future to be compromised due to such scandals.
The Chief Minister also emphasized that the Congress government was not following the previous administration’s pattern of halting development projects initiated by the opposition. He pointed to the Rs. 28 crore allocated for the Baglamukhi ropeway project as a sign of the Congress government’s dedication to meaningful development. In contrast, Sukhu accused the previous BJP government of opening 900 institutions just before the elections without providing adequate staff, budgets, or necessary resources, which he described as a betrayal of public trust.
Further addressing the state’s financial condition, Sukhu pointed out that the BJP government had left the treasury in a dire state, with no funds to run the government for even a month. However, he assured the public that the Congress government had introduced significant policy changes, including the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for 1.36 lakh employees, an 11 percent dearness allowance increase for employees and pensioners, and the hike in police diet allowances. These measures, he said, reflect the state’s improving financial health and the government’s resolve to improve the lives of its employees and citizens.
The CM also outlined the government’s efforts to boost the rural economy. This included increased procurement prices for cow milk at Rs. 45 per liter, buffalo milk at Rs. 55 per liter, maize at Rs. 30 per kg, and wheat at Rs. 40 per kg. Additionally, MNREGA wages were increased from Rs. 240 to Rs. 300 per day to further empower rural communities.
Sukhu also criticized the BJP for engaging in trivial politics during the elections, accusing them of spreading misinformation about the state’s economic situation while ignoring the needs of the people. He pointed to the Rs. 4,500 crore special relief package provided by the Congress government for families affected by recent natural disasters, funded entirely through state resources. The CM also announced the construction of the Pandoh Bridge as part of the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure in the state.
In a gesture of support to those affected by the disasters, Sukhu distributed land allocation certificates under the Chief Minister Sukh-Aashray Yojana, which provides housing assistance to orphaned children and disaster-affected families. He also awarded educational support to 14 beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana, aimed at providing educational support to children of widows and single women.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, speaking at the event, highlighted Himachal Pradesh’s ambition to lead the nation in ropeway projects. He discussed the upcoming Shimla ropeway, which will be built with an investment of Rs. 1,750 crore and is expected to become the second-largest in the world. Agnihotri also announced that work had begun on other major ropeway projects in Rohtang, Bijli Mahadev, Baba Balaknath, and Chintpurni, all aimed at boosting tourism and improving connectivity. Additionally, the government is planning to procure 1,000 new buses for the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), including 350 electric buses, as part of efforts to modernize public transport.
He also responded to opposition leader Jai Ram Thakur’s false claims regarding the non-payment of salaries and pensions in the state’s transport sector, clarifying that all government employees were being paid their dues.
Congress leaders from Mandi district, including Former Minister Kaul Singh Thakur and Congress leaders from Seraj Vijay Pal Singh, Jagdish Reddy and Chet Ram Thakur, expressed their appreciation for the CM’s efforts. They praised the Congress government for fulfilling key promises and for providing much-needed financial support to disaster-affected families. They also lauded the government’s initiatives, including the ropeway project in Mandi and the historic increase in milk prices, which is benefiting local farmers.
The event was attended by several senior Congress leaders and officials, including Former Minister Prakash Chaudhary, Former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sohan Lal Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, and Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma, who all expressed their support for the government’s development initiatives and welfare schemes.
As the Congress government moves forward with its development agenda, CM Sukhu’s address reinforced his commitment to serving the common people and delivering on the promises made to the electorate.
