Tension in Himachal Congress govt again as CPS Ram Kumar attacks Industries Minister Harshvardhan
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Days after his wife faced a hefty penalty in an illegal mining case, Himachal Pradesh Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and Congress MLA from Doon Assembly constituency in Solan, Ram Kumar Chaudhary, has triggered a simmering intra-party conflict by openly criticising Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan.
The public display of friction within the ruling Congress government has raised concerns about unity in the party, especially as six party MLAs had openly rebelled against the party a few months ago and joined the BJP.
The controversy was reignited following a cabinet decision regarding the travel expenses of police personnel in Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses. The government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, decided in a recent cabinet meeting in Shimla that police personnel would now be required to pay their bus fares upfront, a change from the previous system where the fare was deducted from their salaries and covered by the police department.
However, after the meeting, Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan made a statement that police personnel would no longer receive free travel on HRTC buses, which sparked outrage from MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary.
Chaudhary released a video criticising Chauhan’s remarks. Chaudhary lauded CM Sukhu’s decisions but pointedly advised the senior minister to correct his statement, emphasising that police personnel did indeed pay for their travel through salary deductions.
This sharp response from Chaudhary is being seen as more than just a reaction to the minister’s statement. Political observers are linking it to an earlier dispute between the two leaders. A few months ago, Chaudhary had asserted that 80 per cent of jobs in the Baddi, Nalagarh and Barotiwala industrial areas would be reserved for Himachalis. However, Chauhan had contradicted this, clarifying that job allocations in the private sector were determined by companies, with no current government plans to impose such a reservation.
The latest controversy appears to be an extension of this earlier rift, with Chaudhary ceasing the opportunity to express his frustration. The public nature of these exchanges underscores the ongoing tensions within the state government, raising questions about the ruling party’s internal dynamics.
The Himachal Pradesh Police recently took significant action against Chaudhary’s wife in connection with an alleged illegal mining case in Baddi. A tipper and a Poclain machine registered in his wife’s name were seized and a penalty of ₹75,000 was recovered.
The police are investigating whether the mining occurred on government or private land, with further charges pending based on the findings. The Opposition BJP had demanded action under NGT rules.
Chaudhary has denied all allegations of illegal mining, asserting that his business operations were legitimate, with land leased and royalties paid to the government. He has accused a local resident of conspiring against him and has threatened to file a defamation case.
