Former CM accuses Sukhu govt of mismanaging disaster relief funds

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur launched a sharp attack on the Sukhu-led Congress government, alleging large-scale mismanagement of disaster relief funds in Himachal Pradesh. Addressing a press conference, Thakur said that since 2023 the Centre has released over Rs 5,150 crore for relief and rehabilitation, besides a Rs 4,500 crore special package announced by the state. However, official records show only about Rs 300 crore has actually been disbursed as compensation.

He accused the government of engaging in “blame politics” while funds meant for disaster-hit families were either delayed or misdirected to ineligible individuals. Thakur pointed out that Himachal now receives five times more aid compared to the UPA era, yet victims continue to wait for genuine assistance.

The former CM criticised the Congress government’s disaster response, saying it had failed to implement effective measures and was focused more on rhetoric than action. He underlined that despite the massive devastation of 2023, debris at several damaged sites remains uncleared even after two years, worsening the impact of recent calamities.

Sharing his on-ground observations, Thakur said he toured Mandi and Kullu in the past three days and found several families still awaiting even basic relief. He has urged Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to prioritise restoration of the Mandi–Manali National Highway and invited him to visit the affected areas.

Highlighting the BJP’s role, Thakur said party leaders and workers were providing food, clothing and daily essentials to affected families, recalling their efforts during last month’s Mandi tragedy in which 42 lives were lost in a single day. He questioned the absence of Congress workers, alleging the ruling party had grown disconnected from people’s concerns.

Thakur added that all Himachal BJP MPs, along with state and national leaders, had jointly approached Union Ministers including Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, CR Patil and Manohar Lal Khattar to present the state’s losses. The Union Home Ministry, he said, has since constituted multi-sectoral teams to assess disaster-prone regions of Himachal Pradesh.