Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has made a major political claim, stating that a faction of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in the state is actively working to remove Jai Ram Thakur from his position as the Leader of the Opposition. According to the Chief Minister, these leaders are currently busy lobbying in New Delhi to achieve this objective. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made these remarks while interacting with media persons in Mandi after participating in a walkathon organized under the drug-free campaign 'Chitta Mukt Himachal'. He asserted that the state government possesses concrete and reliable intelligence regarding these internal developments.
Factionalism within BJP and pressure on Jai Ram Thakur
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu further elaborated that the opposition BJP in Himachal Pradesh is currently fragmented into five distinct factions. Because of this deep division, immense pressure is being exerted on Jai Ram Thakur by party MLAs. Although the Chief Minister acknowledged that Jai Ram Thakur is making sincere attempts to strike a balance among these warring factions, he noted that those efforts are not yielding much success. Shifting focus to legislative business, he declared that the state government is fully prepared for the upcoming winter session of the assembly, assuring that elected representatives will be granted ample time to raise their queries.
Advice on the upcoming winter session and walkouts
Discussing the legislative proceedings, the Chief Minister emphasized that ample time will be allocated to all legislators to ask their questions during the winter session. However, he offered a piece of advice to opposition members, stating that they should also remain prepared to listen to the government's replies instead of resorting to customary walkouts. He expressed hope that opposition MLAs will stay in the house to hear the responses, which would foster a more constructive debate on matters of public importance. The government aims to maintain complete transparency and accountability during the proceedings.
Massive participation in Chitta Mukt Himachal games
Highlighting the administration's initiatives against substance abuse, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the 'Chitta Mukt Himachal' sports events are being organized for the very first time in the state, featuring a total of 8 different sports disciplines. The initiative has received an overwhelming response from the youth, with over 10,000 registrations already recorded across the state. To motivate the participating athletes, the state government has announced substantial cash prizes. The team that clinches the first position at the state level will receive 31 lakh rupees, the runners-up will be awarded 21 lakh rupees, and the third-place team will take home 11 lakh rupees.
Crackdown on drug suppliers through PIT NDPS Act
Criticizing the previous administration, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu pointed out that the erstwhile BJP government failed to implement the PIT NDPS Act throughout its tenure, whereas his administration enforced the strict law within just two months of assuming office. Under the provisions of this stringent statute, drug suppliers face 6 months of imprisonment alongside the attachment of their illegally acquired properties. He highlighted that ever since he took charge as Chief Minister, there has been a notable 50 percent decline in the illicit trade of synthetic drugs across the state.
Targeting the opposition over absence from the event
Thousands of enthusiastic youths and local citizens participated in the walkathon organized in Mandi. While Dharampur MLA Chandrashekhar and Mandi Sadar MLA Anil Sharma attended the event, no other BJP MLA from the district was present. Taking a swipe at the absentees, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu remarked that this was the sixth major event held under the anti-drug campaign, and opposition legislators should have attended voluntarily without waiting for a formal invitation, given the gravity of the social issue. He reiterated that the state government remains steadfast in its mission to rid Himachal Pradesh of drug abuse. During the visit, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for a new district library building.
