Flaunts documents, videos against BJP leaders
Shimla: Junior Bali (RS), who is the HPTDC chairman and son of Himachal Pradesh’s political stalwart late GS Bali, made a bold foray into serious politics during a press conference at Holiday Home on Tuesday. Confident and composed, Bali named political opponents who had targeted him, presenting what he described as solid evidence against them.
“This is the proof,” he declared, holding up printouts of social media posts made by Sudhir Sharma, Congress-turned-BJP MLA from Dharamshala. “In April 2024 and more recently, he (read Sudhir) spread misinformation about HPTDC and ADB properties being up for sale. Such lies are unacceptable from someone in a responsible position,” said Bali.
Bali accused Sudhir Sharma of sowing public discontent and using his verified social media accounts to amplify baseless claims.
Bali takes on Rakesh Pathania with videos
Shifting focus, Bali targeted BJP leader Rakesh Pathania. “Pathania is a senior leader whom young politicians like me should respect, but his press conference was deeply disappointing,” Bali said.
He played a video of Pathania claiming that HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) was highly profitable under his tenure as vice-chairman. Bali dismantled this claim with audited financial records.
“The HPTDC was in profit before Pathania’s tenure, with the last recorded profit being Rs 18 lakh. During his regime, however, the corporation suffered its first losses, amounting to Rs 1.14 crore,” Bali stated emphatically.
‘Jab se Pathania ke pair pade, loss hua HPTDC mein’
With this sharp remark, Bali directly blamed Pathania for HPTDC’s financial downturn, accusing him of gross mismanagement during his leadership.
From the outset, Bali maintained an assertive tone, addressing critics who questioned his earlier silence on these issues. “Nobody else will decide when RS Bali should speak,” he said firmly.
Explaining his stance, he cited an ongoing court case as the reason for his restraint. “I am a responsible leader. A single statement from me could have impacted the direction of the case in the high court. My accountability lies with my employees and the departments I lead,” he added.
New political force in the making
Bali’s evidence-packed press conference has not only placed BJP leaders on the defensive but also positioned him as a bold and meticulous young leader within Congress. His calculated attack may provide Congress with much-needed political ammunition as the party seeks to regain ground in Himachal Pradesh.
