BJP accuses Congress of dismantling HP Board and Sardar Patel University for political motives
Munish Sood
Mandi
BJP State chief spokesperson Rakesh Jambal has accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of attempting to dismantle the state’s autonomous education system by weakening two of its strongest pillars — the Himachal Pradesh School Education Board (HPBOSE) and the Sardar Patel University (SPU) in Mandi.
“The Sukhu government wants to cripple the very backbone of Himachal’s education. This is a direct assault on the state’s autonomy, and BJP will strongly oppose this anti-education conspiracy,” Jambal said at a press briefing in Mandi.
Jambal termed the government’s decision to affiliate 100 senior secondary schools with the CBSE as “misguided, impractical, and education-hostile.”
He argued that the move undermines a system built over 55 years, serving more than 8,000 schools and five lakh students.
Established in 1968, HPBOSE functions as a self-sustained body aligned with NCERT standards. “The Board is already implementing national-level curriculum and paying royalty for it. Transferring schools to CBSE is nothing but political posturing,” he asserted.
He also revealed that the state government owes the Board ₹87 crore, which has not been released. “This delay exposes the Congress government’s irresponsible and anti-education approach,” Jambal said, adding that 325 employees and 427 pensioners were directly affected by the financial neglect.
Congress Undermining Sardar Patel University, Says BJP
The BJP spokesperson further alleged that the Congress government is deliberately weakening Sardar Patel University, established under former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to ease the burden on Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla.
“When the university was founded, 122 colleges were affiliated to it. Today, only 30 remain. This is not decentralization — it’s destruction. The Congress government is systematically dismantling institutions created for students’ welfare,” Jambal said.
He added that successive BJP governments had strengthened education in the state — setting up Technical University (2011), Medical University (2017), and offering free education from Class 1 to 12 to empower families.
“Stop Playing Politics with Education”
Calling the government’s approach “anti-student and regressive,” Jambal said the Congress regime has failed to implement central schemes like PM SHRI, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to modernize schools across India.
“The education system represents the identity and future of Himachal Pradesh. The Congress must stop politicizing education and immediately withdraw these destructive decisions,” he urged.
Jambal warned that if the government failed to reverse its course, the BJP would launch a state-wide agitation to “protect the state’s educational autonomy and integrity.”
Senior BJP leaders including district president Nihal Chand, Zila Parishad chairperson Pal Verma, general secretary Karan, and media in-charge Rakesh Walia were also present at the press interaction.
