“If Junior Engineers Are Made to Sell Liquor, Who Will Do Their Actual Jobs?” – Jairam Thakur

Shimla, May 4: Leader of the Opposition, Jairam Thakur, criticized the state government on Saturday, accusing it of making a mockery of governance under the guise of “system reform.” In a statement issued from Shimla, Thakur said the government seems obsessed with selling liquor, to the extent that it is ignoring basic public services and civic needs.

He alleged that the state is forcing municipal bodies—including the Shimla Municipal Corporation—to take on the responsibility of selling alcohol. “Junior Engineers (JEs), who are meant to handle technical civic duties, are now being deployed to manage liquor sales,” he said. According to Thakur, in the Shimla Municipal Corporation alone, one JE, seven inspectors, 18 Home Guards, and over 20 other staff members have been assigned to liquor outlets. “Their offices are deserted, and citizens visiting for routine work are returning disappointed and empty-handed,” he added.

Thakur questioned how public services could function when a large section of the municipal workforce is diverted to liquor distribution. “Tasks like issuing tax bills, clearing encroachments, drafting project proposals, and recovering dues have come to a standstill,” he said, highlighting that the government has handed over the management of 19 liquor vends in the city to the Corporation.

“Inspectors from the property tax wing, who were once responsible for assessments, enforcement, and issuing NOCs, are now managing the daily accounts of liquor shops,” Thakur said. “This has left the public frustrated, especially city residents who rely on these services.”

He claimed that the Opposition had already warned the government that such a move would disrupt essential civic functions. “This government seems more concerned about pushing liquor sales than serving the people of the state,” Thakur said, urging the administration to reverse this policy and refocus on public welfare.

HPU Professors Forced to Protest for Salaries

Jairam Thakur also raised concerns about the financial situation at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), calling it a sign of the broader administrative failure under the current government. “HPU is a prestigious academic institution, not just in Himachal but across the country,” he said. “Professors are meant to teach, mentor, and contribute to research—not protest on the streets for their salaries.”

He recalled that a similar situation occurred last month when both teaching and non-teaching staff of HPU were forced to stage a protest over delayed salaries. “This has become a routine under the so-called ‘system reform’ government,” he said.

Thakur urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to stop dismantling institutional systems in the name of reform. “At the very least, ensure timely payment of salaries and pensions. That’s a basic expectation,” he said.