Jairam Slams Sukhu Govt Over Fee on Churdhar Pilgrimage, Calls It Anti-Hindu

Shimla April 29

Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has accused the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Himachal Pradesh government of anti-Hindu actions, citing the recent imposition of a fee on the Churdhar pilgrimage. In a statement from Shimla, Thakur compared the move to the jizya tax imposed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb on Hindu pilgrimages.

He stated that devotees visiting Lord Shirgul Maharaj now have to pay to undertake the religious journey, including charges on animals like horses and mules used on the route. Terming it a shameful act, Thakur highlighted that people from Himachal and even from Uttarakhand have deep spiritual and cultural ties with Churdhar, often visiting with families, offering their first harvest, milk, and ghee.

Thakur said that the government’s actions reflect a disturbing mindset and criticized it for turning into a “fee-collection regime” in just two years. He pointed out that even basic services like birth certificate corrections are now five times more expensive. Thakur alleged that Sukhu’s earlier statements about defeating “97% Hindutva ideology” revealed his intent and questioned his silence on the 10 election guarantees that brought the Congress to power. He urged the government to stop its anti-people policies and focus on fulfilling its promises of development and employment.