Priyanka, CM Sukhu accuse Centre of neglecting Himachal

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today accused the BJP-led Central Government of meting out step-motherly treatment to Himachal Pradesh while speaking at the unveiling of the statue of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here.

Emphasising the need for a government truly committed to public welfare, Priyanka Gandhi said the NDA government was more concerned with winning elections and clinging to power than addressing the people’s concerns. “Himachal has been struck by massive natural calamities, yet the Centre has not extended any help. The Chief Minister has repeatedly sought assistance but received none,” she alleged, adding that Sukhu personally visited disaster-hit areas to support the affected people.

Chief Minister Sukhu, while addressing the gathering, said that several key institutions in the state were established during Congress regimes with the support of the Gandhi family. “It was the Congress government that gave the state institutions like IIT Mandi, IIM Sirmaur, and the Central University,” he said.

He further recalled that it was former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who granted statehood to Himachal when “followers of a certain ideology were raising slogans like *statehood maaro thud*.” Sukhu said much of the state’s development was a result of the vision and efforts of the Gandhi family and Virbhadra Singh. “No one else can take credit for that,” he asserted.