Anurag Thakur Slams Congress for Authoritarian Approach in Mandi

13 September 2024, Himachal Pradesh: Former Union Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur has condemned the forceful action taken by the government against peaceful protesters in Mandi, resulting in injuries to several Hindu activists. Thakur described this as a continuation of Congress’s authoritarian attitude.

Thakur stated, “The Congress party is unable to move beyond its authoritarian mindset. After Sanjauli, the forceful crackdown on peaceful protests in Mandi is extremely unfortunate. It has become commonplace for the Congress government to use lathicharge and water cannons against peaceful protesters. This reflects the misuse of governance against public sentiment by the Congress. Even after widespread public anger and traders’ protests in Sanjauli, the Congress government remains unresponsive. In a healthy democracy, why is the public being prevented from expressing dissent? What grave offense have the Hindu organizations committed that necessitates the use of force? Can’t Hindu society protest for their demands under Congress rule?”

He further added, “The frequent incidents and resultant conditions in Himachal are concerning. A thorough investigation into the circumstances of the Mandi and Sanjauli incidents is needed. The Congress government appears to be trying to suppress public sentiment through intimidation. The local populace’s concerns regarding demographics need to be taken seriously. Himachal is a peaceful state, and such conflicts are unsettling. The Congress government must ensure that such situations do not arise in the future. Maintaining the peace of Himachal is the responsibility of the state government.”