Jairam Thakur Slams Fee on Churdhar Pilgrimage, Accuses Sukhu Government of Following in Aurangzeb’s Footsteps

Shimla, April 30: Leader of the Opposition, Jairam Thakur, launched a scathing attack on the Himachal Pradesh government, accusing the Sukhu administration of promoting policies that are “anti-Hindu” in nature. Speaking out against the recently imposed fee on the Churdhar pilgrimage, Thakur termed it a direct assault on the religious sentiments of Hindus.

He said it was disgraceful and ill-intentioned for the government to charge devotees for visiting Lord Shirgul Maharaj’s shrine in Churdhar — a sacred site for countless people in Himachal Pradesh. “It’s deeply unfortunate that pilgrims are now being forced to pay a fee for performing religious rituals in their own state,” he said, adding that the government has also imposed a tax on horses and mules used during the pilgrimage, causing distress not only to devotees but also to local horse owners and guides who rely on this seasonal livelihood.

The former Chief Minister emphasized the religious, cultural, and emotional significance of Churdhar for people from Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, and the Jaunsar-Bawar region of Uttarakhand. “For generations, families have visited this revered site, made vows, and returned to express their gratitude. To impose a fee on such a journey is to trample upon their faith.”

Drawing a historical parallel, Thakur compared the Sukhu government to Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, who had imposed a pilgrimage tax — the notorious jizya — on Hindus. “What we’re seeing in Himachal today is eerily similar. This administration is not only taxing pilgrims but even animals used in the journey,” he remarked.

Thakur also criticized the government for increasing the fee for amending birth certificates, claiming that charges have gone up fivefold. “It’s just one more example of how this government has turned into a ‘government of fees’ in just two years,” he said.

He accused the Congress-led government of abandoning its electoral promises and guarantees, and urged the Chief Minister to withdraw such “anti-people policies” and focus on fulfilling the developmental and employment-related commitments made to the people.