Opposition BJP calls it dictatorial attitude
TNR News Network
SHIMLA: A police case has been registered at Darlaghat in Solan district after a group of schoolgirls raised slogans during a public event attended by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
The students, who reportedly did not receive lunch at the event, staged a protest and raised slogans, including, “Sukhuji ne bulaya hai, bhookhe hi tadpaya hai” (Sukhu ji invited us, but left us starving).
The incident occurred during a public gathering held at Arki on Saturday where CM Sukhu had launched the Milk Incentive Scheme and Transport Subsidy Scheme for the region. As the event unfolded, several students, who were part of the crowd, expressed their frustration over being left without food despite waiting for over an hour.
Police action draws sharp political criticism
Following the protest, an FIR was registered at Darlaghat police station. Sources said the students were not officially invited to the event, raising questions about how they came to be part of the audience. Despite this, the registration of a case against minors has drawn strong criticism from opposition leaders, especially from the BJP.
Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur condemned the government’s response, stating, “This is not a government that feeds students, but one that files cases against them.” BJP leader and former minister Govind Singh Thakur also questioned the logic behind filing FIRs against students and local residents for merely voicing their grievances.
In a social media post, Govind Singh wrote, “When BJP leaders are shown black flags or face protests by Congress workers, no FIRs are filed. But the same police is quick to act when the protest is against the Congress government. Why the double standards?” He demanded the immediate withdrawal of FIRs against the protesting students.
Unprecedented political vendetta, says BJP
BJP MLA and spokesperson Trilok Jamwal went a step further, accusing the Congress government of running a “dictatorial regime” in Himachal Pradesh. “This is the first time we are seeing a government file FIRs against young schoolgirls for raising slogans over food issues. It’s not just an overreaction, it’s deeply shameful and reeks of vendetta politics,” he said.
He alleged that such authoritarian behaviour had no place in a democratic society and urged the state government to reconsider its stance and focus instead on addressing genuine public concerns.
Videos of protest circulate online
Several videos of the protest have surfaced on social media, showing young girls expressing disappointment over being left hungry and unattended during the event. One student can be heard saying that their accompanying teachers had left and that hundreds of attendees were left waiting without food.
The Himachal Pradesh Police and administration have yet to issue a detailed statement on the matter.
