CM Sukhu Defends Policies Amid Opposition Criticism in Himachal Assembly

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addressed key issues in the state assembly session, defending his government’s policies and initiatives while facing strong criticism from the opposition. The session witnessed heated debates over governance, infrastructure projects, and social welfare schemes.

Former Himachal CM Jairam Thakur, leading a protest at Chhota Maidan, raised concerns over the death of Vimal Negi, holding the Sukhu government responsible. Thakur accused the government of negligence, claiming that despite the issue being raised in the assembly, no response was provided. He questioned why the state government was reluctant to order a CBI probe into the matter. Furthermore, he alleged financial irregularities in the Pakhuwala and Shangtang projects. According to Thakur, the day Negi went missing, he was allegedly made to sign payments worth crores, demanding that details of these transactions be made public. He also criticized the government for shutting down various institutions within a year of coming into power, asserting that if BJP returns to power, they will review the past five years of governance under the Sukhu administration.

During the session, CM Sukhu countered these allegations and highlighted the achievements of his government, particularly in the realm of social welfare. He emphasized the steps taken for widows, citing the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana and the Children of the State scheme as crucial initiatives benefiting vulnerable sections of society. The CM outlined measures for women abandoned by their husbands, stating that financial assistance of ₹3 lakh is being provided for house construction, and the widow remarriage grant has been increased from ₹65,000 to ₹2 lakh. He affirmed the government’s commitment to allocating 30% of state resources for underprivileged sections.

The issue of drug addiction also took center stage during the discussions. CM Sukhu revealed plans for a ₹5 crore de-addiction center on 150 bighas of land in Kotla Behar, Solan. Another de-addiction facility is set to be established in Gagret. He pointed out that the previous government failed to notify the NDPS Act, but his administration had taken the necessary steps in this regard. The state government has also engaged with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on this issue, ensuring stricter measures along inter-state borders. The CM claimed that a 30% reduction in drug-related cases had been observed due to stringent actions, but traffickers had now shifted routes to remote areas like Mandi and Ani. He assured that the government remains firm in its stance and will take action against offenders without any political influence.

Addressing concerns about the mining policy, CM Sukhu acknowledged that if there were any flaws, they would be rectified. He announced a review of the mining policy and invited suggestions from the opposition for improvements. The government has set a revenue target of ₹1,000 crore from the mining sector and aims to implement stricter regulations to achieve this goal.

As the assembly session progressed, opposition parties continued their attack on the government, demanding accountability on multiple fronts. However, CM Sukhu maintained that his administration remains committed to transparency, progressive governance, and effective policy implementation.

Inputs are taken from the web, and this is also a web-generated news report.