Himachal BJP protests outside CM Sukhu’s residence, alleges corruption

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, August 5, staged a massive protest in Shimla against the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government, accusing it of corruption, anti-people policies, deteriorating law and order, misuse of democratic institutions and political vendetta.

Hundreds of BJP workers and supporters, led by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and the party's Himachal Pradesh president Rajiv Bindal, marched from the Central Telegraph Office on Mall Road to Sher-e-Punjab before laying siege to Chief Minister Sukhu's official residence at Oakover.

Protesters raised slogans against the Congress government, the chief minister and his ministers while demanding the dismissal of the state government.

Addressing the gathering, Thakur alleged that the Congress government had stalled development works and welfare schemes soon after assuming office and continued to pursue "politics of closure and disruption" even after nearly four years in power.

He also claimed that the government delayed panchayat and urban local body elections because it anticipated electoral defeat. Referring to the recently concluded local body polls, Thakur alleged that the state administration was being misused to register false criminal cases against BJP leaders and workers following the Congress party's electoral setback.

The Leader of Opposition alleged that officials were being pressured to file FIRs against political opponents even when no legal grounds existed. He claimed that cases had been registered against Rajiv Bindal, MLAs Sudhir Sharma and Ashish Sharma, former MLAs Hoshiar Singh and Rajendra Rana, several BJP leaders and even some of their family members.

Thakur further alleged that newly elected district council members, councillors and BJP-backed panchayat representatives were also being targeted, calling it an attack on democratic institutions.

He also claimed that freedom of expression was under threat in the state, alleging that journalists critical of the government and citizens expressing dissent on social media were facing action.

The BJP leader said the party would raise these issues during the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly session beginning on August 21. He warned that if the government failed to change its functioning, the BJP would intensify its agitation across the state.

Thakur also alleged that several Congress leaders were dissatisfied with the government's performance and claimed that feedback regarding its functioning had already reached the party's central leadership.

Expressing concern over law and order, he referred to recent murder cases in Shimla and Bilaspur, alleging that criminals had become increasingly emboldened under the present government.

He also cautioned government officials against acting under political pressure to target opposition leaders, saying those found misusing their authority would be held accountable if the BJP returned to power.

State BJP president Rajiv Bindal announced that Wednesday's protest marked the beginning of a sustained statewide campaign. He said the BJP would organise protests every month in every Assembly constituency and mandal against what he described as the Congress government's anti-people policies.

Bindal alleged that the Congress had failed to fulfil several elections promises, including providing Rs 1,500 per month to women and permanent government jobs. He further claimed that schools, colleges, hospitals and other public institutions had been shut down, while welfare schemes introduced during the previous BJP government had been discontinued.

He also accused the state government of neglecting employees, pensioners, outsourced workers, daily wagers, farmers, women, youth and senior citizens.

Calling the Congress administration a "government of closures, mafia, corruption, nepotism and anti-women, anti-farmer and anti-youth policies," Bindal alleged that it had increased the financial burden on people by raising electricity, diesel, cement and other essential commodity prices instead of promoting development.

The protest concluded with BJP leaders and workers taking a pledge to continue their agitation against the Congress government, alleging corruption and vowing to intensify their campaign until it is removed from office.