Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur while addressing the press conference
Chamba, April 11: In a fiery press conference held in Dalhousie, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur launched a scathing attack on the Himachal Pradesh government, alleging large-scale corruption under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s administration. Citing the administrative investigation into Vimal Negi’s death, Thakur said it has “completely exposed the corrupt functioning of the Sukhu government.”
Thakur claimed that a project initially sanctioned at ₹125 crore was executed for ₹250 crore, without securing financial approval for two years — pointing to a scam exceeding ₹100 crore. “This is the first time in the state’s history that such blatant misuse of public funds has occurred,” he said, further alleging that luxury vehicles like Fortuners and Innovas were gifted to influential leaders linked to the scandal.
Raising serious concerns over Vimal Negi’s death, Thakur stated, “He died due to rampant corruption in the concerned department.” He accused the government of shielding the culprits by refusing a CBI investigation, despite repeated demands from Negi’s family, colleagues, and the public.
“The government has ignored calls for justice and failed to act transparently,” Thakur said, highlighting long-standing issues within the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation since the Sukhu government came to power.
In a broader critique, Thakur accused the state government of financial mismanagement, stating, “In just two years, the Sukhu government has taken loans amounting to half of what the state borrowed over 25 years.” He asserted that current development projects are solely being carried out under Central Government schemes such as PM Awas Yojana, PMGSY, Ayushman Bharat, National Health Mission, and Samagra Shiksha.
Thakur also raised the issue of non-payment of contractors’ bills, saying that despite having a Letter of Credit (LOC), funds are being selectively released after alleged commissions are paid to Congress leaders. “Contractors are facing bankruptcy. Their machines have been seized by banks. This is nothing short of organized loot,” he remarked.
The press conference was attended by Kangra MP Dr. Rajiv Bhardwaj, Dalhousie MLA DS Thakur, and several senior BJP officials, all echoing calls for transparency, accountability, and a CBI-led probe into the Vimal Negi case.
The political heat is rising in Himachal as the demand for justice and fair governance grows louder.
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