Schools Shut, Liquor Shops Rise Under Sukhvinder Rule: Jairam

Shimla, April 24, 2025: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur launched a scathing attack on the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government, accusing it of prioritizing liquor sales over education. In a statement issued from Shimla, Thakur alleged that the government is shutting down thousands of schools and colleges while aggressively opening liquor vends, even near educational institutions, across Himachal Pradesh.

Highlighting public outrage, Thakur said that protests and demonstrations are erupting across the state against liquor vends being opened near schools. In some cases, locals have even been forced to approach courts for justice. He cited a previous instance in Bilaspur where locals opposed a liquor shop near an anganwadi centre, and officials allegedly told them to relocate the anganwadi instead.

Thakur further criticized the state for forcing under-resourced municipal corporations to operate liquor vends that failed to find private bidders. He questioned why selling liquor is being made a government priority, even at the cost of civic responsibilities.

On the revenue front, Thakur dismissed the government’s claims of significant excise income as “hollow and inflated”. He noted that despite promises of a 40% annual increase in excise revenue, the government couldn’t even touch double-digit growth. In contrast, the last year of the BJP government had seen a 22% growth in excise revenue.