Mandi/Kangra: The political temperature in Himachal Pradesh rose sharply on Thursday, with two senior BJP leaders launching a scathing attack on the Congress-led government for failing to release ₹14 crore in dues to PGI Chandigarh under the Himcare health scheme. The BJP has called the delay not just an administrative lapse but a betrayal of the poor and sick.
BJP’s Chief Spokesperson and sitting MLA Rakesh Jamwal, speaking from Mandi, and former minister Bikram Singh Thakur, addressing media in Kangra, tore into the Sukhu government, accusing it of being “inhuman, policyless, and disconnected from ground realities.”
“The state signed an MoU with PGI on February 25, 2024, but even after months, the dues haven’t been cleared. As a result, treatment of over 1,400 patients has been put on hold,” said Jamwal. “This isn’t governance—it’s cruelty. Himcare was a lifeline for the poor. Now, it’s reduced to a meaningless card,” he added, warning that BJP will launch a statewide agitation if funds aren’t released immediately.
Bikram Singh Thakur echoed similar concerns, calling the Congress regime “anti-people.” “Hospitals are turning away patients. Cards issued under Himcare are being rejected. This is shameful,” said Thakur. “The Congress government promised welfare, but all it has delivered is suffering.”
Both leaders pointed out the contradiction in the government’s approach — while the Chief Minister makes grand announcements worth thousands of crores, he allegedly cannot find ₹14 crore to uphold a healthcare lifeline for the poor.
The Himcare scheme, launched during the BJP tenure, had provided free medical care to lakhs of families. The BJP claims that under Congress, the scheme is being systematically neglected. “The Congress is playing with lives,” said Thakur. “This issue is not about politics anymore—it’s about people’s right to health and dignity.”
On a national level, the issue reflects a broader concern over healthcare schemes becoming victims of political apathy once power changes hands. With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls nearing, BJP appears ready to turn this into a major campaign point.
Both Jamwal and Thakur issued a clear warning: “If the government doesn’t act, we will take this fight from the streets of Mandi and Kangra to every corner of Himachal.”
Munish Sood
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