BJP mounts fierce offensive as Sukhu govt nears 3-year mark

As the Congress government approaches the completion of its three-year tenure on December 11, the BJP on Thursday launched an aggressive political assault on Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, alleging “misrule, corruption and anti-people governance” over the past three years. The attack came during a protest rally in Dharamsala that drew thousands of party supporters and local residents.

When Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur rose to address the gathering, the crowd greeted him with chants of “Hamara neta kaisa ho, Jai Ram Thakur jaisa ho”. Thakur wasted no time taking a pointed dig at Sukhu over the recent controversy involving a viral video in which schoolchildren greeted the Chief Minister with “Radhe Radhe”, prompting him to question their choice of greeting. Thakur claimed that the Chief Minister had “insulted Sanatan Dharma”, while also recalling Sukhu’s earlier remark about bringing Congress to power in a “97 per cent Hindu-dominated state”.

Thakur accused the ruling Congress of alienating every section of society, saying people across the state had taken to the streets against the government. “We have raised the slogan: “vyavastha patan ke 3 saal, badlo bhrasht Congress sarkaar”, he declared. He further claimed that Himachal Pradesh had witnessed a series of natural calamities since the Congress took office, arguing that the Sukhu government had failed to respond effectively.

He alleged that critical welfare schemes such as the Shagun Yojana and Himcare had been left unfunded. Seeking transparency, he demanded a detailed account of how the state utilised the Rs 5,500 crore already received under disaster relief, even as he cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of an additional Rs 1,500 crore, assuring the public that the funds would be released soon.

Among other issues, Thakur flagged delays in funding for the Central University campus in Dharamsala, alleged attempts to sell off assets of the Agriculture University and amendments to Section 118 of the Revenue Act, which he described as “Himachal on sale”. He also criticised the government over the recent lathicharge on ABVP activists, claiming growing public frustration across the state.

BJP state president Dr Rajeev Bindal said the huge turnout reflected the public’s anger against what he called the Congress government’s administrative collapse. Pointing at the crowd, he predicted that the BJP would “come like a storm” in the next elections. “Let’s take a pledge today to throw the Congress out of power,” he urged.

Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur accused the Chief Minister of acting “against the interests of the Hindu community”, which makes up 97 per cent of the state’s population. Encouraging the crowd to chant “Radhe Radhe” and “Jai Jai Sia Ram”, he criticised the government over rising crime, worsening law-and-order conditions and a deepening financial crisis.

BJP state-in-charge Shrikant Sharma, beginning his speech with “Radhe-Radhe”, questioned the Congress’s unfulfilled 2022 poll promises. When he asked whether women had received Rs 1,500 or youth had been given jobs, the crowd responded unanimously: “Nothing has been given!”

Senior BJP leaders, MPs and MLAs, including former Speaker Vipin Parmar, attended the rally.