Kangra slips to the bottom among 12 districts; Winter Carnival branded as exploitation of traders
TNR News Network
Dharamshala
BJP’s senior state spokesperson Trilok Kapoor has accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of deliberate neglect, political discrimination, and economic exploitation of Kangra district. His remarks came in response to the recently released Himachal Pradesh Human Development Report 2025, unveiled by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on October 27 in Shimla.
Prepared by the state’s Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the report titled “Building the Future in a Climate-Impacted World” highlights stark disparities in development across districts.
Kangra at the bottom of HDI rankings
Kapoor pointed out that Kangra, once considered the pride of Himachal, has now fallen to the lowest rung among all 12 districts, with a Human Development Index (HDI) score of 0.695. In contrast, Solan (0.880) and Lahaul-Spiti have shown remarkable progress. “This clearly proves that Kangra has been deliberately kept backward under Congress rule,” he alleged.
Criticism of Winter Carnival
Taking aim at the ongoing Kangra Winter Carnival 2025 in Dharamshala, Kapoor said:
“On one hand, the government’s own report admits Kangra is the weakest district in terms of economic and human development. On the other, the administration is busy celebrating festivals to mislead the public. This carnival is not a symbol of development, but a mockery of Kangra’s misery.”
Allegations of extortion from traders
Kapoor further alleged that traders, shopkeepers, and even panchayats were being forced to contribute funds under the guise of supporting the carnival. “At a time when incomes are shrinking and resources are drying up, the Congress government is bleeding local businesses. This is like rubbing salt into the wounds of Kangra’s people,” he charged.
Political victimization
He claimed that despite Kangra giving a strong mandate to Congress, the district has been rewarded only with neglect. Major development projects have been shelved, while government machinery is being used to harass the opposition and ordinary citizens. Even after the devastating floods of 2025, Kapoor said, the government failed to provide adequate relief, choosing instead to divert resources into events like the Winter Carnival.
Kapoor concluded with a stern warning:
“The proud people of Kangra are watching this double-faced and discriminatory attitude of the Congress government. The district that played a decisive role in forming the government has been pushed to the bottom of the development index. The people will not forgive this betrayal.”
