BJP accuses CM Sukhu of misleading house on Jobs; CM defends with Recruitment data
Shimla, Aug 20,
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday witnessed heated exchanges over the issue of employment, with the opposition BJP accusing Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of misleading both the House and the people. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur alleged that the government had presented contradictory figures. He said that in 2024 the government informed the Assembly that 34,980 jobs had been provided, yet on Independence Day this year the Chief Minister himself announced only 23,191 jobs. “Where have the 11,000 missing jobs gone?” Thakur asked, accusing the Chief Minister of speaking falsehoods even from the floor of the Assembly.
Thakur further said that the Congress government had failed to honour its pre-poll promise of creating one lakh jobs in its first cabinet meeting and five lakh employment opportunities during its tenure. Instead, he alleged, the government had removed over 15,000 employees and abolished more than 1.5 lakh posts soon after assuming power. According to him, the youth of the state were promised permanent and pensionable jobs but the government was now offering only excuses.
Chief Minister Sukhu, responding to the opposition’s concerns in the House this morning, defended his government’s record. He stated that approximately 23,000 regular appointments had already been made. Detailing the recruitment process, he said nearly 7,000 jobs had been created in the education sector, including 3,000 trained graduate teachers, 1,500 junior basic teachers and around 750 vocational teachers. He added that about 5,000 posts had been filled in the IPH Department, mostly for para-fitters and electricians, while 2,061 Van Mitras were appointed in the Forest Department. In addition, 484 college lecturers, 318 drawing teachers, 200 medical officers, 1,100 staff nurses and 150 nurses at IGMC had also been recruited.
Also read:Himachal’s youth unemployment twice the National average, reveals PLFS 2025 report
The Chief Minister informed the Assembly that the results for 13,000 police appointments were pending and assured that from next month the government would begin the process of filling 6,200 Aaya posts and recruiting 6,000 nursery-trained teachers. He also underlined that the Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation had secured a license to facilitate overseas employment opportunities for youth.
In defence, Sukhu reiterated the government’s commitment to delivering on its promise of providing five lakh jobs during its five-year tenure, as stated in the Congress election manifesto, and said that the BJP was twisting figures only to mislead the public.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
