A sharp political dispute has erupted in Una district of Himachal Pradesh following objectionable remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ajay Joshi regarding a memorial gathering organised for Professor Simmi Agnihotri, the late wife of Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. The remarks, made in a video addressing the commemorative events held in the Haroli assembly segment, have sparked intense backlash across social media and regional political platforms, leading the Deputy Chief Minister to issue a pointed response without explicitly naming the opposition leader.
Objections Raised Over School Venue and Memorial Scale
In the video circulated online, Haroli BJP leader Ajay Joshi questioned the justification behind staging large public observances for the late professor. He asked whether she was Mother Teresa or Nelson Mandela to warrant such events. Joshi specifically targeted the use of school premises for the memorial activities, arguing that holding gatherings there and inviting performers disrupted the students. He criticised the running of events such as marathons and walkathons under the banner of remembrance, describing the entire exercise as an unnecessary spectacle.
Expanding his critique, Joshi questioned the late professor's actual contributions to Haroli and asked whether the area lacked other historical figures of eminence. He went on to allege that she had drawn a salary while remaining at home, calling the public programme a mere political stunt. The BJP leader asserted that local public support for the Deputy Chief Minister had eroded and claimed that nobody would have willingly attended without the fanfare. Chanting a derogatory slogan that eighty out of one hundred are dishonest while calling Mukesh Agnihotri great, he stated that many people come and go, suggesting that the Deputy Chief Minister's political run would soon conclude as well.
Public Backlash and Deputy Chief Minister's Retort
As the video gained traction, users across social media condemned Joshi for employing disrespectful and harsh language against a deceased person. Confronted with mounting criticism over his tone and choice of words, Joshi attempted to defend his position by sharing a separate video clip of Mukesh Agnihotri, claiming that the Deputy Chief Minister had himself used objectionable words in the past.
Reacting to the episode, Haroli MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri took to his official Facebook page to offer a rebuttal without mentioning Joshi directly. Agnihotri wrote that a handful of BJP members speaking nonsense about late Professor Simmi Agnihotri ought to first examine what the Prime Minister of the country thought of her through his official correspondence. The Deputy Chief Minister referred to the formal condolence letter that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written to him following her demise, reminding critics of the dignity accorded to her memory at the highest national level.
Context Behind the Haroli Memorial Programme
The commemorative programme in Haroli had been arranged in honor of Professor Simmi Agnihotri and featured a performance by renowned Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan. It was this musical and commemorative gathering that served as the catalyst for Joshi's public outburst. Professor Simmi Agnihotri passed away on February 10, 2024, an event that had previously drawn grief and condolences from political figures across party lines.
