BJP workers from across Himachal Pradesh gathered in Shimla to stage a large-scale protest rally at Chaura Maidan near the Vidhan Sabha, vociferously accusing the Congress-led government of fostering a mafia raj in the state.
The demonstration saw senior BJP leaders leading the charge against the ruling party, alleging rampant corruption, deteriorating law and order, and unchecked mafia activities.
The rally site and its surroundings were heavily guarded, as a significant police presence was deployed to maintain order. The protest, which disrupted traffic in the state capital during the morning hours, escalated as BJP workers attempted to breach the barricades set up near the Vidhan Sabha.
Party leaders, including BJP state president Dr. Rajiv Bindal, made continuous efforts to prevent any direct confrontation between the workers and the police.
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, along with BJP MLAs, walked out of the ongoing budget session in the Assembly to join the rally. The legislators marched from the Vidhan Sabha to Chaura Maidan, further amplifying their message of discontent against the government.
Addressing the gathering, state BJP chief Rajiv Bindal launched a scathing attack on the Congress government, accusing it of financial mismanagement and pushing the state into a debt crisis. He highlighted that in just two and a half years, the government had increased the state's debt burden to Rs 1,03,000 crore by taking Rs 32,000 crore in fresh loans.
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He further alleged that corruption and misgovernance had stalled developmental projects, led to rising inflation, and drastically reduced employment opportunities in the state.
Bindal also accused the Congress government of shielding various mafias, including the drug (chitta) mafia, liquor mafia, mining mafia, and forest mafia, which he claimed were wreaking havoc on law and order.
Citing shocking crimes, he pointed out the brutal murder of a Dalit youth, whose body was dismembered and discarded in a sack, as well as a recent shootout in Bilaspur, the assault on a Sub Divisional Magistrate by the mining mafia in Mandi, and the dragging of a forest guard for three kilometers in Chamba.
He alleged that criminals had been given a free hand under the Congress administration.
Accusing the Congress of failing to fulfill its electoral promises, Bindal reminded the public of the party's guarantees, such as providing five lakh jobs, Rs 1,500 monthly allowance to women, and 300 units of free electricity.
He claimed that not only had the government failed to deliver on these promises, but it had also withdrawn the existing provision of 125 free electricity units, increased HRTC bus fares, raised the prices of essential ration items, and imposed taxes on home stays.
Additionally, he alleged that over 1,500 government institutions, including 1,200 schools, had been shut down, setting a new precedent for misgovernance.
He vowed that the BJP would continue its fight against what he termed the Congress's "ruinous policies," and would work tirelessly to ensure that the government is ousted from power in the next elections.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, addressing the rally, painted a grim picture of the law and order situation in Himachal Pradesh under Congress rule.
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He stated that the state, once known as "Dev Bhoomi," had now become a hub for contract killings and organised crime. He referred to the broad daylight shooting of a former Congress MLA at his home on Holi as evidence of the worsening security environment.
Thakur also slammed the Sukhu government for halting several welfare schemes, including old-age pensions, Himcare, Sahara, Jan Manch, and Shagun Yojana. He warned that the government would eventually be held accountable by the people for neglecting public welfare and development.
Expressing strong displeasure over the police’s extensive arrangements to curb the BJP protest, Thakur alleged that party workers were stopped from entering Shimla, forced to walk long distances to the rally site, and faced unnecessary barricades and restrictions.
He accused the government of silencing opposition voices both inside the Assembly and on the streets, but assured the crowd that the BJP would persist in its struggle against the government’s policies.
BJP’s in-charge for Himachal Pradesh, Shrikant Sharma, and co-incharge Sanjay Tandon also addressed the rally, heavily criticising the Congress government for what they described as "misrule" and "anti-people policies."
The leaders vowed that the BJP would continue to raise public issues and hold the government accountable for its failures, promising a strong comeback in the next elections.
Also Read: BJP to protest 'mafia raj' in Himachal on March 27: Bindal
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