CM using disaster relief events for political vendetta: Jai Ram

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today, accusing him of turning the state’s disaster relief distribution events into a political platform to vent personal frustrations.

Addressing a press conference here today, Thakur alleged that instead of showing sensitivity towards the disaster-affected citizens, the Sukhu government used the relief event to target the Opposition, even excluding BJP MLAs from participation.

Thakur claimed that the Centre had already provided Rs 5,500 crore and 1.11 lakh houses under the PM Awas Yojana for Himachal Pradesh’s disaster rehabilitation. “Despite receiving such massive aid, the Sukhu government has failed to spend even a 10th of the allocated funds,” he said. Only Rs 81 crore has reached affected families so far, he added, accusing the state of unnecessary delays and inefficiency.

Thakur alleged that projects meant for public sector undertakings are being handed over to contractors from Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, implying favoritism and corruption. “These contractors are being called in because PSU firms can’t offer the kind of kickbacks private firms do,” he claimed, calling it a “betrayal of Himachal’s interests.” On the excise policy, Thakur drew parallel between Sukhu’s administration and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, saying that changes made mid-financial year were illegal and would cause a loss of Rs 1,250 per liquor case, leading to massive revenue loss. He also alleged political interference in liquor factory raids and claimed that officials close to the CM tried to stop action against violators.

Highlighting the government’s fiscal mismanagement, Thakur stated that CM had “run the state on a model of tax and debt,” pushing Himachal’s debt close to Rs 40,000 crore in just three years. He accused the CM of spreading lies and neglecting public welfare as citizens struggled with inflation, closed schools and unpaid contractors.

Thakur claimed that in 2023, the CM had announced Rs 4,500 crore relief package to disaster affected families but data reflect that the state government hardly spent Rs 300 crore of that package.