The opposition BJP on Wednesday staged a protest in Shimla, accusing the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of pursuing politics of vendetta, corruption, anti-people decisions, deteriorating law and order, and misuse of democratic institutions.
Led by former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, along with state BJP president Dr Rajeev Bindal, the protest witnessed participation from a large number of BJP workers, public representatives, office-bearers and supporters from across the state. The demonstration, triggered by the recent registration of cases against several BJP leaders, including MLA Sudhir Sharma, appeared to be an effort to energise the party ahead of the Assembly elections next year.
Following a public meeting in Shimla, BJP leaders and workers marched peacefully up to Sher-e-Punjab and later laid siege to the Chief Minister's official residence, Oak Over.
The protesters raised slogans against the Congress government, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and his ministers over allegations of corruption, revenge politics, anti-people policies and what they termed the murder of democracy. BJP workers staged a sit-in outside the Chief Minister's residence and demanded the dismissal of the state government.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur alleged that the Congress government began shutting down development projects and welfare schemes soon after assuming office. "Even after nearly four years in power, the government continues to follow a policy of closure and disruption," he said. He further claimed that the government attempted to delay Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections because it feared rejection by the people. According to him, BJP fought a legal battle from the High Court to the Supreme Court to ensure the elections were held, resulting in a historic verdict against the Congress.
Thakur said District Council elections were held in 10 of the state's 12 districts, where Congress allegedly failed to field candidates in nine districts. He also claimed that BJP secured a decisive victory in three of the four Municipal Corporation elections. According to him, these results reflected the public's desire to remove the Congress government from power.
The BJP leader accused the state government of misusing the administration to register false criminal cases against BJP leaders and workers following its electoral setbacks. He alleged that officials were being pressured to lodge FIRs even when no legal case existed, solely to target political opponents.
He claimed that cases had been registered against BJP state president Dr Rajeev Bindal, MLAs Sudhir Sharma, Ashish Sharma, Hoshiar Singh, Rajendra Rana and several other BJP leaders, as well as their family members. He further alleged that the government had started targeting newly elected District Council members, councillors and BJP-backed Panchayat representatives, calling it an unprecedented attack on democracy.
Thakur also alleged that freedom of expression was under threat in the state. He claimed that journalists publishing reports critical of the government and citizens expressing dissent on social media were facing action.
He said BJP would raise all these issues during the upcoming Assembly session beginning on August 21 and had decided to launch a public movement ahead of the session. He warned that if the government did not change its functioning, the party would intensify its agitation and the people would ultimately remove the Congress government from power.
Referring to developments within the Congress, Thakur claimed that even leaders of the ruling party were unhappy with the government's functioning. He said feedback had reportedly reached the party high command, warning of serious political consequences if the Chief Minister failed to change his approach.
He also cautioned government officials against acting under political pressure to harass opposition leaders. Thakur said any officer found misusing authority for political purposes would be held accountable in accordance with the law if BJP returns to power.
State BJP president Dr Rajeev Bindal said the protest marked the beginning of a sustained statewide movement. He announced that the party would organise demonstrations every month in every Assembly constituency and Mandal against what it described as the anti-people policies of the Congress government.
Bindal said the Congress had promised ₹1,500 per month to women, but lakhs of women were still waiting for the benefit even after nearly four years. He also alleged that promises related to permanent government jobs and restoration of the old pension system remained unfulfilled, while schools, colleges, hospitals and other public institutions had been shut down.
He claimed that several welfare schemes launched during the previous BJP government under Jai Ram Thakur for the benefit of poor families had been discontinued. According to him, employees, pensioners, outsourced workers, daily wagers, farmers, women, youth and senior citizens had all been neglected by the present government.
Describing the Congress government as a "government of closures, mafia, corruption, nepotism and anti-women, anti-farmer and anti-youth policies," Bindal said BJP workers would now reach every village and household to expose what he termed the failures of the government.
He further alleged that the state government had increased the financial burden on people by raising the prices of electricity, diesel, cement and other essential commodities, pushing Himachal Pradesh into a deep crisis instead of accelerating development.
Calling upon party workers to strengthen public outreach, Bindal said BJP would take its campaign to every booth, Panchayat, Mandal and Assembly constituency and continue its struggle until the Congress government is voted out of power.
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