Rohit Thakur was called back during July inauguration attempt; Priyanka Gandhi’s visit cancelled due to bad weather; CM Sukhu finally opens school virtually
Munish Sood
MANDI
The inauguration of the newly constructed Government Senior Secondary School at Deori in Mandi district finally took place on Tuesday, but only after a series of unexpected twists that stretched over the past several weeks.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the school building and the commencement of classes virtually from Shimla after Congress general secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was scheduled to visit Deori for the inauguration, could not travel to the area because of adverse weather conditions.
The latest development brought an unusual chapter to a close for a school that had remained at the centre of attention since it was severely damaged during the devastating monsoon disaster of 2023.
The controversy over its inauguration had actually begun last month.
In July, Education Minister Rohit Thakur reached Deori to inaugurate the newly constructed school building. However, before the formal inauguration could be completed, he was called back following directions from the Congress high command. The inauguration was consequently stopped, and the programme did not take place.
The incident generated considerable discussion locally, with questions being raised over why the Education Minister, who had already reached the venue, was asked to return without inaugurating a completed government school building.
The matter subsequently acquired a political dimension with plans being made for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit Deori and inaugurate the school during her proposed visit to Himachal Pradesh on August 18.
Her proposed visit was particularly significant because of her earlier association with the school.
Priyanka Gandhi had visited disaster-hit areas of Mandi in September 2023 following the devastating floods, cloudbursts and landslides. During her visit to Deori in the Drang Assembly constituency, local residents and schoolchildren had apprised her of the damage suffered by the school and sought its reconstruction.
The school building had suffered extensive damage in the disaster, forcing students to continue their studies under difficult circumstances. The reconstruction project was subsequently taken up and a new school building was constructed at a cost of around ₹4.69 crore.
With Priyanka Gandhi’s proposed visit scheduled for August 18, elaborate arrangements were made at Deori. Government machinery and the district administration prepared for the event, while several senior Congress leaders and ministers were also expected to participate.
However, the plan changed once again on Tuesday.
Priyanka Gandhi could not travel to Deori because of adverse weather conditions, and her physical visit was cancelled. The possibility of the visit being called off had emerged in political and administrative circles on Monday evening, although formal confirmation came only on Tuesday morning.
The cancellation also affected the travel plans of several senior leaders and ministers who were expected to attend the function. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh were among those whose participation had been anticipated. Some did not proceed from Shimla, while others reportedly turned back midway.
With Priyanka Gandhi unable to reach Deori, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu joined the programme virtually from Shimla and formally inaugurated the newly constructed school building and the commencement of classes.
Sukhu said Priyanka Gandhi had wanted to visit Deori personally and interact with the students but had to cancel her visit because of bad weather. He said she would visit the school in September and meet the students.
Her message was subsequently read out at the Deori function by the Chief Minister’s political adviser Sunil Sharma Bittu.
In her message, Priyanka Gandhi recalled her September 2023 visit to Deori following the natural disaster and said she had personally witnessed the destruction caused by the calamity. She appreciated the efforts made over the past three years to rebuild the school and expressed her desire to meet the students during her next visit.
The school’s prolonged inauguration controversy had also reached the Himachal Pradesh High Court through a public interest petition.
The court had taken note of the fact that the new building had been completed but was not being put to use and questioned why students were continuing to study elsewhere when a new government building was available. The court also sought a response from the state government and other concerned authorities.
The judicial intervention brought renewed attention to the larger issue of keeping completed public infrastructure out of use while students continued to study under an alternative arrangement.
The Deori school saga has now taken an unusual course: a July attempt by Education Minister Rohit Thakur to inaugurate the building was halted after he was called back following directions from the high command; the subsequent plan for Priyanka Gandhi to inaugurate it on August 18 was scuttled by bad weather; and the building was ultimately inaugurated virtually by the Chief Minister from Shimla.
For the students and families of Deori, however, the political twists surrounding the inauguration matter less than the fact that the new building is finally operational.
After nearly three years since the 2023 disaster, the students can now begin classes in the permanent school building that was constructed following the destruction of their old campus.
