Shimla, March 22,
Rajya Sabha MP and Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajni Patil took center stage in Parliament by raising concerns over the state’s pending disaster relief compensation, while BJP MPs from Himachal remained silent. In a rare move, Patil, a leader from Maharashtra, aggressively questioned the central government’s alleged bias against Himachal Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha, accusing the Modi government of neglecting the hill state’s financial needs following the devastating 2023 monsoon disaster. The calamity claimed over 500 lives and caused infrastructure damage worth thousands of crores, yet the central government sanctioned only ₹400 crore against the state’s demand for ₹10,000 crore. Calling it a blatant injustice, Patil slammed the Centre’s apathy towards Himachal’s crisis.
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Noteworthy that the absence of Himachal’s BJP MPs from the debate on this subject has already been a fuel for political controversy, wherein now as Patil, despite being an outsider, emerged as the strongest voice advocating for the state’s cause. With Himachal Pradesh having no Congress representation in the Lok Sabha, it was a Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra who took the lead in demanding rightful aid. The BJP, which dominates Himachal’s parliamentary representation, has been accused of failing to stand up for the state’s interests. The Congress has repeatedly targeted BJP MPs for their silence, arguing that their loyalty lies with their party leadership rather than the people of Himachal. The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led state government has also criticized BJP legislators for allegedly prioritizing party politics over the state’s welfare, claiming that BJP-ruled states received immediate disaster aid while Himachal was ignored.
Patil further questioned the selective approach of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), highlighting how Himachal’s disaster response was not treated at par with similar calamities in other states. Her intervention in Parliament sparked fresh political debate with the Congress using the issue to position itself as the only party fighting for Himachal’s rights. Meanwhile, the BJP faces mounting pressure to explain why its own MPs failed to secure adequate relief for their home state.
As the election season nears, disaster relief compensation is set to become a key electoral issue in Himachal Pradesh. Patil’s speech not only exposed the BJP’s alleged inaction but also underscored the irony of an MP from another state championing Himachal’s cause. Whether this narrative will influences voters remains to be seen, but the political battle over Himachal’s rightful aid has now gained national attention.
