Govt obstructing BJP’s proposed rally: Ex-CM

The former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur has accused the Congress government of attempting to obstruct the BJP’s proposed rally scheduled to be held at Zorawar Stadium in Dharamsala on December 4.

Talking to the media in the Opposition Lounge of the Vidhan Sabha, Thakur said the administration had initially granted permission for the rally at Zorawar Stadium and the party had deposited the required fee. “Now the administration wants to change the rally venue. This is completely unacceptable. The rally will be held at Zorawar Stadium as scheduled,” he asserted, adding that the event would mark the “beginning of the countdown of the Congress government”.

Alleging that an anti-government atmosphere was growing across the state, Thakur claimed the Congress government is “fearful” and was using administrative machinery to prevent public gatherings in support of the BJP. “Wherever people gather for the BJP, the government pressures officials to cancel permissions and change venues. But this time, their conspiracies will not succeed,” he said.

The Leader of the Opposition also criticised the government for denying pensioners permission to hold a rally at Zorawar Stadium two days ago. He said the decision had created an “uncomfortable situation” for elderly pensioners who were seeking to raise their grievances. “The government is neither giving them their rights nor listening to them. At an age when they should be with their families, they are being pushed around. Instead of hearing them out, the government is diverting attention,” Thakur said.

He added that the BJP had raised the issue in the Assembly and would continue to fight for pensioners’ rights. “Not just pensioners, every section of society is angry with this government. People are frustrated and ready to take to the streets. That is why the government is finding excuses to ban protests and change rally venues,” he alleged.

Claiming that the Sukhu government was “running out of time” and was “slipping down”, Jai Ram Thakur said the BJP’s December 4 rally would launch the party’s campaign under the slogan “vyavastha patan ke 3 saal, badlo badlo bhrasht sarkaar”.

He further claimed that the Congress in Himachal Pradesh would face a defeat “even worse than Bihar” in the next Assembly elections. He satirically commented “Bihar ki janta ne Congress ko Bolero jeep me fit kar dia hai, aur Himachal me janta Congress ko Alto car me fit kar degi”.