S Gopal Puri
Shimla: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur has accused the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government of large-scale corruption in the recent allotment of shops at Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), alleging that state revenue and farmers’ interests are being compromised to benefit select individuals.
Thakur claimed that at Parala Mandi, shops that were auctioned for between ₹50,000 and ₹83,000 a decade ago have now been allotted at a mere ₹4,800. He alleged that base prices were deliberately kept low and the application process manipulated so that government “favorites” could acquire shops at throwaway prices.
“This is organised loot under the protection of the government,” Thakur said. “Most applications were rejected, leaving only those selected by the government. This has resulted in huge losses to the state exchequer, while farmers and orchardists—who should be the real beneficiaries—are left struggling.”
The BJP leader also criticized the government for avoiding direct answers when BJP MLA Randhir Sharma raised the issue in the Assembly. Dissatisfied with the government’s response, BJP legislators staged a walkout from the House.
According to details shared by Thakur, at the APMCs of Parala, Tutu, and Shilaroo, 133 applications were received for 70 shops. However, 63 applications were rejected, and the remaining 70 shops were allotted to 70 applicants—allegedly those close to the government—at prices barely above the base rate.
Thakur questioned why shops that had fetched up to ₹83,000 ten years ago were now sold at just ₹4,800. He argued that if the crores of rupees lost in this process had been directed towards strengthening APMCs, farmers and orchardists could have benefited significantly.
“The so-called government of change has only changed the scale of corruption. Every day new records are being set,” Thakur charged, demanding that all shop allotments be cancelled, fresh tenders issued, and strict action taken against those responsible.
