Thakur: ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’ tag dents image of a politician

Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, April 5

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Mounting pressure on Power Minister Anil Sharma to either campaign in favour of the BJP or leave the party, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today attacked former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram, saying “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram” politics would lead the senior leader nowhere.

It is not only the Chief Minister who took a dig at the former minister, Cabinet colleagues of Anil Sharma — IPH Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, Forest Minister Govind Singh Thakur and other BJP leaders — too have been targeting him for his father’s decision to join the Congress. Congress candidate Ashray Sharma, son of the Power Minister, has been pitted against BJP candidate Ramswaroop Sharma from Mandi. Addressing a public meeting at Devdhar in Seraj, Mandi district, the Chief Minister said “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram” tag brought a bad name to politicians. He said even former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had said the state government was serving the people of the state honestly, but Sukh Ram was in a denial.

“The reason is that he wants to give political power to his family members,” Thakur said.4

“The BJP has given respect to Power Minister Anil Sharma, but Sukh Ram was demanding ticket for his grandson Ashray from Mandi, which could not be done to favour a family,” he said. Sources said the Chief Minister’s jibe is being seen as a provocation. In the last Assembly elections, Virbhadra Singh had targeted Sukh Ram, calling him “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram” at a public meeting in Mandi, which had prompted the latter to join the BJP along with his son.

Anil Sharma was then the Rural Development Minister in the Congress regime. Anil Sharma did not respond to calls.