Leader of Opposition alleges British Parliament denied any such address by CM
Munish Sood
MANDI:
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has accused Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of misleading the people of Himachal Pradesh by making a false claim about addressing the British House of Lords during his recent visit to England.
Speaking at an event in Janjehli under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Jai Ram Thakur said that CM Sukhu’s statement was officially disproved by the House of Lords Information Office, which confirmed that no such event ever took place.
“Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has now become the first Chief Minister in the country to be certified as a liar — first by the Himachal Assembly and now by the British Parliament,” Jai Ram Thakur said. He also alleged that the Chief Minister used official channels to spread misinformation.
He said that on September 24, 2025, the Chief Minister’s media team and the state’s Information and Public Relations Department issued an official press release claiming that Sukhu had become the first Indian Chief Minister to address the House of Lords. However, the BJP later contacted the official communication centre of the British Parliament (lordspressoffice@parliament.uk), which denied any such address or engagement.
“When we verified the details, the House of Lords officials clearly said there had been no sitting of the House after September 19. So, how could the Chief Minister have addressed it on September 24?” Thakur questioned.
The former Chief Minister said this was not just a personal mistake but a misuse of public resources for self-promotion. “The government’s communication machinery, funded by taxpayers, was used to spread a false claim. This damages the image of both the Chief Minister and the state,” he added.
Calling it an act that had brought embarrassment to Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur said such misleading statements lower the dignity of the Chief Minister’s post. “Sukhu should clarify the truth and apologise to the people. The government’s job is to work for the state, not to create fake publicity stories abroad,” he said.
Jai Ram Thakur concluded by saying that the people of Himachal want an honest and accountable government. “Truth cannot be hidden behind fancy press releases and foreign trips,” he remarked.
When journalists asked Chief Minister Sukhu to comment on allegations by Jai Ram, he said the BJP leader and his party were taking the matter lightly. He stated that he had also addressed European members in the House of Lords, where several Lords were present. Sukhu said that if they wished to discuss matters concerning him, they should first verify facts properly.
