Jai Ram Thakur Accuses Himachal Govt of Blocking BJP Rally at Dharamsala’s Zorawar Stadium

Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has accused the Congress government of attempting to obstruct the BJP’s proposed rally scheduled for December 4 at Zorawar Stadium in Dharamsala.

Speaking to the media in the Opposition Lounge of the Vidhan Sabha, Thakur said the administration had initially granted permission for the event and the BJP had already deposited the required fee. “Now the administration wants to change the rally venue. This is unacceptable. The rally will take place at Zorawar Stadium as planned,” he said, asserting that the event would mark the “beginning of the countdown for the Congress government”.

Claiming that anti-government sentiment was rising across Himachal Pradesh, Thakur alleged that the Congress government was “fearful” and was using administrative machinery to block public gatherings in support of the BJP. “Wherever people gather for the BJP, the government pressures officials to cancel permissions or change venues. But this time, their efforts will not work,” he said.

The Leader of the Opposition also criticised the government for denying pensioners permission to hold a rally at the same venue two days earlier. He said the move had created hardship for elderly pensioners who were merely seeking to raise their concerns. “The government is neither giving them their rights nor listening to them. At a time when they should be at peace with their families, they are being pushed from one place to another. Instead of hearing them out, the government is trying to deflect attention,” he said.

Thakur said the BJP had raised the matter in the Assembly and would continue to advocate for pensioners. “Not just pensioners, every section of society is frustrated with this government. People are angry enough to take to the streets. That is why the government is finding excuses to ban protests and alter rally venues,” he alleged.

Claiming that the Sukhu government was “running out of time” and “losing ground”, Thakur said the BJP’s December 4 rally would launch the party’s campaign under the slogan: “Vyavastha patan ke 3 saal, badlo badlo bhrasht sarkaar.”

He also predicted a severe defeat for the Congress in the next Assembly elections, saying their performance would be “even worse than in Bihar”. In a satirical remark, he added, “In Bihar, the public has squeezed the Congress into a Bolero jeep; in Himachal, the people will fit them into an Alto.”