Shimla, Dec 18,
The first day of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly’s winter session on Wednesday witnessed fiery exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches as allegations of corruption flew thick and fast.
Intense exchanges between the ruling and opposition benches dominated the proceedings. A discussion under Rule 67 exposed a deep political divide, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur trading allegations over corruption cases.
Chief Minister Sukhu accused BJP President Rajiv Bindal of involvement in the personal protective (PPE) kit scam during the BJP’s tenure. He further alleged that Bindal had been shielded by the previous government in a recruitment case linked to the Solan Municipal Council. “The BJP leader leading the party’s anti-corruption campaign is the same person protected by their government,” Sukhu remarked, suggesting the opposition was using the adjournment motion to divert attention from their alleged wrongdoings.
Jai Ram Thakur, in response, came to Bindal’s defense, asserting that both the Himachal Pradesh High Court and the Supreme Court had cleared him of all charges. He accused Sukhu of misrepresenting facts to mislead the House and questioned the Congress’s inaction against those allegedly involved in the PPE kit scam, casting doubt on its anti-corruption stance.
Adding to the debate, Congress legislator Ashish Butail pointed fingers at the previous BJP government for corruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming it had contributed to the loss of over 1,000 lives. Citing a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, Butail highlighted a significant rise in the state’s debt under BJP rule, which had increased per capita liability by ₹1.5 lakh. He attributed the current financial crisis to the alleged financial mismanagement by the BJP.
Meanwhile, former BJP President Satpal Singh shifted the narrative towards allegations of corruption within the current Congress regime. He claimed that the assets of a Congress Lok Sabha candidate had grown by ₹5 crore in just 18 months and alleged widespread bribery in the issuance of licenses. Singh also raised concerns about an officer, previously booked in a vigilance case, being granted an extension, and demanded strict action against corrupt officials.
Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania intervened to clarify that decisions regarding extensions fall outside the purview of Rule 67 but acknowledged the concerns over corruption. He stressed that corruption undermines public trust in governance and discourages youth from pursuing public service.
The intense discussions on the opening day of the session set the stage for a contentious winter session, with both sides seizing the opportunity to highlight governance issues and alleged misconduct.
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