Sunil Chadha
Dharamshala: Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Himachal Pradesh on Saturday (December 20, 2025) was called off, triggering disappointment among BJP workers and dampening hopes of the state government raising pending relief issues with the Centre.
Shah was to be the chief guest at the foundation day ceremony of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) training centre at Sapri in Kangra district on December 20. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was slated to personally receive him at the venue.
Though there was no formal official announcement till late Friday evening, BJP leader and former minister Rakesh Pathania said the visit had been cancelled due to inclement weather. Shah was earlier expected to arrive in Chandigarh on Friday evening, halt overnight and proceed to Himachal on Saturday morning, but he did not reach Chandigarh.
Airspace curbs, security arrangements rolled back
In view of the VVIP visit, the administration had imposed a blanket ban on aero-sports and all aerial activities in the Jawalamukhi sub-division. Paragliding, drone operations, hot air ballooning and other aero-sports had been prohibited to ensure security, public safety and maintenance of law and order.
Traffic restrictions had also been planned in the Sapri area, with orders to completely halt vehicular movement on several key routes from 11.15 am till the chief guest’s arrival and again from 2 pm till the conclusion of the programme. With the visit called off, these arrangements now stand withdrawn.
CM hoped to press for Rs 1,500-crore disaster package
The cancellation has political and administrative implications as well. Chief Minister Sukhu was expected to take up several crucial issues with the Home Minister, foremost among them the early release of the Rs 1,500-crore special disaster relief package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Dharamshala visit on September 9.
More than two months later, the funds are yet to be released despite visits by seven Union ministers and two rounds of assessments by central teams. With Amit Shah’s visit seen as an opportunity to push the demand, the sudden cancellation has dashed expectations within the state government and left BJP cadres visibly disheartened, especially after extensive preparations and publicity for the event across Kangra town.
