Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu won hearts on Sunday when he stopped at a local barber shop in Chamba for a haircut during his visit to the district to attend the concluding ceremony of the Minjar Fair.
Photographs of the Chief Minister getting a haircut at a local shop, with Chamba MLA Neeraj Nayyar seated beside him, have gone viral on social media.
Speaking to a young girl who asked him why he chose to get a haircut at an ordinary shop, Sukhu said, "I thought it was Sunday and my hair had grown, so I went for a haircut. I have done this before as well. Since becoming Chief Minister, I sometimes get very busy with work and have to call someone home, but I prefer visiting a shop whenever possible."
The gesture drew appreciation from many local residents. "It feels like he is one of us. We have rarely seen a VIP sit in an ordinary shop for a haircut," said Kirpa Ram, a farmer who had come from Sahoo to Chamba for the Minjar Fair. "It was hard to believe that the Chief Minister was sitting there so casually. He behaved just like any ordinary person," he added.
Sukhu, who comes from a humble background and has spent nearly four decades in public life, has often displayed such simple gestures during his visits across the state, reflecting his connection with people at the grassroots level.
As Chief Minister, he has introduced several welfare and development initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable sections of society, including abandoned children, widows and other marginalised groups. Many of these measures have received attention at the national level.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister presided over the concluding cultural evening of the International Minjar Fair in Chamba on Sunday.
Extending his greetings to the people on the occasion, Sukhu said the state government was giving top priority to road construction and upgradation in Chamba district. He said that around Rs 591 crore had been spent on the construction and expansion of roads in the district. He reiterated the government's commitment to the overall development of every region of Chamba.
The Chief Minister said that Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College had been established in Chamba to ensure that residents do not have to travel outside the district for specialised healthcare services. He said special emphasis had been placed on providing modern medical infrastructure and advanced healthcare technology at the institution.
Sukhu said a 200-bed hospital building had been constructed at a cost of Rs 158 crore. The facility is expected to improve patient care while providing better working and learning conditions for doctors, nursing staff, medical students and other healthcare professionals.
He reiterated that the state government remains committed to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring quality medical services for the people.
During the event, the Chief Minister distributed prizes to winners of various competitions organised as part of the Minjar Fair and also released a souvenir published by the district administration.
Nandani from Chamba district was crowned Miss Minjar Queen on the occasion.
Renowned Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal was the star attraction of the concluding cultural evening and entertained the packed audience at Chamba Chowgan with an energetic performance.
Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board Bhawani Singh Pathania, MLAs Neeraj Nayyar and Hardeep Singh Bawa, former ministers Asha Kumari and Thakur Singh Bharmouri, APMC Chamba Chairman Lalit Thakur, District Congress Committee President Surjeet Bharmouri, Congress leaders Yashwant Khanna and Amit Bharmouri, Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal, Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Saklani and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
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