People Protest Due to Government’s Failures: Jairam Thakur
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Shimla: Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister, Jairam Thakur, strongly criticized the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government, holding it responsible for the widespread protests across Himachal Pradesh. In a statement released from Shimla, Thakur pointed out that people from various sections of society have taken to the streets, expressing their discontent with the government’s failure to deliver on its promises. According to him, the government has been unable to address the basic needs and expectations of the people, which has led to a significant loss of public trust in the administration.
Thakur emphasized that the protests are a direct consequence of the government’s inability to meet the commitments it made before coming to power. He stated that during the 2022 assembly elections, the Congress party had made several lofty promises, which raised the expectations of the people. These promises, he said, turned out to be mere rhetoric as the government, in its nearly 21-month tenure, has failed to live up to any of the guarantees it offered.
“People feel deceived by the false assurances given by the Congress party during the elections. The government has become increasingly authoritarian, making decisions that directly impact the common man without any consideration for their well-being. They’ve raised diesel prices, cement prices, and even increased the cost of ration in fair-price shops, adding to the financial burden of ordinary citizens,” Thakur remarked.
He further criticized the government’s financial mismanagement, pointing out that employees are facing delayed salaries, and their dearness allowance (DA) has been stopped. This, he argued, is a result of the government’s short-sightedness and lack of planning, which is impacting the financial health of the state. The inability to pay salaries on time has triggered discontent among government employees, who have also started protesting against the state administration.
Thakur highlighted that the government’s failure to control inflation has worsened the situation for people already struggling with rising costs. The Leader of the Opposition noted that it’s not just one section of society that is unhappy. Protests have been organized by various organizations and unions across the state, each raising their grievances against the current administration.
“Every segment of society feels betrayed by the government, and they are all united in their opposition. Yet, despite this overwhelming discontent, the government has failed to comprehend the seriousness of the situation. It is as though the people’s voices are falling on deaf ears,” Thakur said.
The former Chief Minister warned that if the government continues to ignore the demands and grievances of the people, it will face even larger public uprisings. He stated that the Chief Minister and his government need to accept responsibility for their failures and reflect on why such a situation has arisen in such a short time since they assumed power.
In his concluding remarks, Thakur urged Chief Minister Sukhu to introspect and realize the ground realities faced by the people of Himachal Pradesh. He advised the government to work for the welfare of the people and take steps to regain the trust that has been lost. According to him, only by acting in the best interests of the people can the government hope to rebuild its credibility.
“The government cannot continue to overlook the expectations and aspirations of the people. It must act now, before the situation spirals out of control,” Thakur stated, calling for immediate and effective governance.
