Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur launched a strong attack on the state government during a formal interaction with the media at his office in the State Assembly, raising serious concerns over alleged corruption, deteriorating law and order, and misuse of the state’s natural and financial resources.
Thakur stated that the upcoming Assembly session would be highly challenging for the ruling government, as the opposition has submitted rule-based notices on stalled development works, worsening law and order conditions, and several public interest issues. He claimed that responding to these questions would prove difficult for the government.
According to the Leader of Opposition, an atmosphere of distrust against the Congress government and the Chief Minister currently prevails across the state, indicating growing public dissatisfaction.
Accusing the Chief Minister of repeatedly misleading the Assembly with “false statements,” Thakur alleged that such conduct has become part of the government’s functioning. He demanded a detailed inquiry, suggesting that misleading statements in the House could amount to a breach of privilege.
He also raised concerns about alleged violations of parliamentary traditions, claiming that, for the first time in Himachal Pradesh’s legislative history, discussion on the Governor’s Address had been deliberately delayed. He described this as a sign of confusion and ideological uncertainty within the government.
Highlighting the state’s financial condition as a major issue, Thakur alleged that despite repeated questions from the Bharatiya Janata Party regarding the financial crisis and halted development projects, the government has failed to provide clear answers.
The opposition leader further alleged the existence of an active land mafia and middlemen exploiting provisions under Section 118, claiming that such activities are causing industries to leave the state. He added that even after three and a half years, the closure of public institutions has not stopped.
On the issue of transparency, Thakur criticized the government’s decision to keep the Anti-Corruption Bureau and Vigilance Department outside the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. He questioned what information the government intended to conceal from the public.
Taking a political dig, he said the RTI law introduced during former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure to promote transparency was now being undermined and used as a political tool by the present leadership. He remarked that political power is temporary and the government would soon be accountable to the public.
Alleging misuse of government institutions, Thakur described the recent move to withdraw cabinet-rank privileges as an attempt to mislead the public, arguing that genuine cost-cutting measures should have been implemented immediately after the court removed Chief Parliamentary Secretaries.
Concluding his remarks, the Leader of Opposition said the government would have to account for every rupee spent and respond to allegations of misgovernance during the Assembly session, asserting that symbolic measures would not satisfy the people of the state.
