S Gopal Puri
Shimla:
Sudhir Sharma, Congress-turned-BJP MLA from Dharamshala, has filed a privilege motion against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, accusing him of repeatedly misleading the Vidhan Sabha and the public by making “false and contradictory statements” on the floor of the House.
In a formal letter dated August 25, 2025 (Ref No. VS-204-25/1) and addressed to Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Sudhir Sharma cited multiple instances where he claimed the Chief Minister made factually incorrect statements in the Vidhan Sabha, particularly regarding employment data, public welfare announcements, disaster relief figures and implementation of government schemes.
“The Chief Minister has on numerous occasions presented information in the House that contradicts official records. This misleads not just members of this august House, but also the people of Himachal Pradesh,” Sudhir Sharma wrote in the letter.
Key allegations by Sudhir Sharma
• Employment figures: Sudhir Sharma pointed out that CM Sukhu made conflicting claims about employment generation — citing 34,000 jobs during last year’s monsoon session, 23,000 on Independence Day and announcing plans for 25,000 jobs in the 2025-26 budget. Sharma alleges that these figures are inconsistent and lack verification.
• Atal Adarsh Health Institutes: The CM had promised one model health institute per constituency, yet according to Sudhir Sharma, not a single such facility has materialised, including in BJP-held constituencies.
• PET scan machines: Despite multiple mentions in successive budgets, PET scan machines have not been installed, raising questions about execution.
• DA arrears and budget allocations: The CM announced the release of Dearness Allowance (DA) and additional disaster relief funds in the budget, which Sharma says have not been disbursed to date.
• Disaster relief data discrepancy: The MLA highlighted a major inconsistency in the state’s disaster compensation data. On one occasion, the government stated Rs 483 crore was disbursed, while another response listed Rs 403 crore, of which only Rs 307 crore pertained to the actual fiscal year in question.
• Vimal Negi death case: Sudhir Sharma accused the CM of going back on his promise of justice in the Vimal Negi death case where the family was initially assured support and investigation, but the government reportedly resisted a CBI probe in court.
• False claims on guarantees: The Chief Minister’s claims regarding the fulfillment of the government’s “10 guarantees” have been dismissed as misleading, with even the Speaker allegedly noting discrepancies during Assembly proceedings.
Call for action
Sudhir Sharma urged the Speaker to treat the matter as a serious breach of privilege, stating: “The dignity of the House is at stake. If no action is taken, it sets a dangerous precedent where any member — even the Chief Minister — can make misleading statements with impunity.”
He has also attached “documentary evidence” to support his claims and is pushing for appropriate disciplinary action against CM Sukhu.
This motion is expected to fuel further political tension in the state assembly, where the Congress government is already facing pressure over unfulfilled promises and growing dissent within its own ranks.
