“Govt Must Cancel Celebrations, Focus on Disaster Relief”: Jairam Thakur

Shimla Nov 18
In a sharp attack on the state government, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur said the Congress administration had no justification for celebrating its three-year tenure when hundreds of people had lost their lives and thousands remained affected by recent natural calamities. Addressing the media in Shimla, he said any government with “even a shred of moral responsibility” would cancel the celebrations and prioritize relief for disaster-hit families.

Thakur said the Centre had extended unprecedented support to Himachal during the 2023 disaster—deploying the Army, Air Force, NDRF, and providing over ₹5,500 crore in relief so far, along with an advance of ₹225 crore under NDRF and NDMF. He criticized the state government for failing to distribute even ₹400 crore of relief despite announcing a special package of ₹4,500 crore.
He reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance of ₹1,500 crore for Himachal was “written in stone,” and the state would receive every rupee.

Commenting on the Bihar election results, Thakur said the massive victory of the NDA was an endorsement of Modi’s leadership and an example of “pro-incumbency politics.” He added that the Congress’s diminishing presence—reduced to “a Bolero-full of seats”—reflected nationwide rejection of its “false guarantees.”

On the legislative assembly session, he said the government should focus on making the session effective rather than merely extending its duration. He accused the Chief Minister of avoiding debates, especially during the crucial discussion on disaster management.

Responding to queries on the Sanjauli mosque issue, Thakur stated that the government must respect public sentiment and follow the court’s ruling declaring the structure illegal.

He also alleged that the government’s reluctance toward holding Panchayat elections was clearly visible from its actions and statements.

Senior BJP leaders Vipin Parmar, Satpal Singh Satti, Bikram Thakur, Rakesh Jamwal, Surender Shouri, Inder Singh Gandhi and Dalip Thakur were present during the interaction.