BJP leader responds to Chief Minister’s remarks; accuses government of shifting stance on proposed taxes
Munish Sood
Mandi
The political confrontation in Himachal Pradesh intensified on Thursday after BJP leader Anurag Thakur responded sharply to remarks made by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, escalating the ongoing row over taxation and cess.
Reacting to the Chief Minister’s statements, Thakur said the government’s position had weakened and accused Sukhu of attempting to deflect the issue. He stated that when a government introduces a bill in the Assembly to increase taxes, VAT, or impose a cess, it clearly means an additional financial burden on the public.
Thakur alleged that after facing pressure from the BJP, the Chief Minister was now trying to divert attention instead of addressing the issue directly. He further accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its election guarantees and claimed that internal differences within the party were becoming visible.
He also alleged that the state government was burdening people while pushing Himachal Pradesh deeper into debt.
Background: CM’s Remarks
Earlier, Chief Minister Sukhu had accused the BJP of internal factionalism, stating that the party in the state was divided into multiple groups. He had alleged that Anurag Thakur was attempting to maintain his political relevance within his faction.
The Chief Minister also claimed that Thakur was trying to secure a position in the Union Cabinet by making remarks against senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
Sukhu had clarified that the state government had not increased petrol or diesel prices and said that the cess-related bill had not yet become law. He accused the opposition of misleading the public on the issue.
Political Tensions Rise
The exchange underscores growing political tensions in the state, with both sides trading allegations over governance, financial decisions, and political intent.
With the budget session in progress, the issue of taxation and public burden is likely to remain a key political flashpoint in Himachal Pradesh in the coming days.
