Rohit Thakur Defends Poll Delay, Slams BJP’s Double Standards

Shimla Oct 10: Education Minister Rohit Thakur, while addressing a press conference here today, strongly refuted the allegations of the opposition regarding postponement of Panchayat elections in the State. He clarified that the deferment of Panchayat elections was purely due to administrative reasons based on valid recommendations from officials who have suggested to defer the election as the restoration and rehabilitation works are being carried out after severe natural disaster.

He said that the BJP has displayed double standards, as they themselves had delayed Corporation elections by a year in 2022. Not only that, the elections were deferred in many other states under BJP rule for various reasons. Yet, the BJP chooses to ignore such contexts while criticizing the Congress Government. The decision to defer elections was made in consideration of citizen safety and the approaching harsh winter.

Since 2023, Himachal Pradesh has faced severe natural calamities, claiming around 700 lives and losses exceeding Rs. 15,000 crore to the infrastructure. While the previous BJP government failed to ensure preparedness, the Congress Government acted proactively and issued Rs. 4,500 crore special relief package from State’s resources and significantly increasing compensation for fully and partially damaged houses in the year 2023. The government has also extended support to agriculturists, horticulturists, shop owners, displaced families and urban and rural households.

The Education Minister said that he and his Cabinet colleagues met central ministers to apprise about of the State’s situation and appealed for assistance for affected families. Despite these persistent efforts, the Centre did not provide the support required, as the opposition repeatedly obstructed the process. Instead of playing the role of constructive opposition, the BJP misleads the public, raises baseless questions on the official visits of state congress leaders and indulges in personal attacks which show their inability to highlight genuine issues. The opposition has utterly failed to represent Himachal Pradesh’s legitimate rights at the Centre, not securing even a single penny in relief for the State. Instead, they are entirely consumed with finding faults and attacking every constructive initiative of the Congress Government which shows their complete disregard for the welfare of the people of the state they claim to be fighting for.