Shimla: Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur has raised serious allegations against the Himachal Pradesh government, accusing it of providing political protection to those involved in the water supply scam in Theog. Thakur criticized the government for its failure to take action over the past year, despite clear evidence of irregularities and numerous public complaints.
Thakur explained, “This scam took place in broad daylight, with water being supplied to areas without proper roads using motorcycles and cars. Tankers reportedly covered over a thousand kilometers in a single day, and payments were made without any verification. Such blatant violations cannot occur without political backing.”
Thakur further revealed that the scam had been exposed by a tanker driver during a press conference in November of the previous year, yet the government and relevant authorities did not take action. He alleged that despite months of complaints and investigations sitting idle with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), the government only pretended to act when opposition leaders raised the issue, and BJP workers threatened to file a criminal case.
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The Leader of Opposition questioned the government’s delayed response: “Why was the government silent for so long? Whose interests were they protecting?” He also highlighted the government’s quick approval of bills for the fake water supplies, while genuine contractors across the state were struggling to receive payment for their legitimate work.
Thakur is demanding more than just the blacklisting of the company involved in the scam. He insists that a criminal case should be filed against all individuals connected to the wrongdoing, and that the officials involved should be suspended until the investigation is concluded. Thakur also called for a statewide investigation into water supply contracts to identify any other similar irregularities.
“The Chief Minister must clarify who is shielding the culprits and why these clear violations were allowed to continue for so long,” Thakur added, intensifying the pressure on the government to take serious and immediate action. The opposition’s growing calls for accountability have sparked widespread outrage, with locals and political leaders urging the government to address the issue with transparency and fairness.