“Standing up for one’s father is not a crime,” says Himachal Revenue Minister
Munish Sood
Shimla— Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has strongly condemned the police action against his son, Vikram Singh Negi, who has been booked along with seven others for allegedly burning an effigy of former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, in Reckong Peo.
Speaking to reporters in Shimla, Minister Negi called the FIR “unfortunate and politically motivated,” emphasizing that peaceful protest is a constitutional and moral right of every citizen. “My son did not engage in violence or break any law. He merely expressed his dissent in a peaceful manner, which is a democratic right. It’s unfortunate that he is being harassed for it,” said the senior Congress leader.
Negi questioned the silence of the authorities and political opponents when, according to him, “derogatory and personal comments” were made against him by the Leader of the Opposition. “Why was no attention paid when baseless and insulting remarks were made against me? Any son would be hurt by such attacks on his father. What my son did was a natural emotional response, not a criminal act,” he said.
The FIR and Charges
The controversy stems from an incident earlier this week in Reckong Peo, where BJP district leaders filed a complaint alleging that a group of Congress workers, including Minister Negi’s son, had staged a protest without permission and burned an effigy of Jai Ram Thakur. The protest reportedly took place without prior approval from the district administration.
Following the complaint by BJP Kinnaur district president Yashwant Singh Negi, the Reckong Peo police registered a case under Sections 173, 189(2), and 292 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — the new criminal code that replaced the IPC.
Besides Vikram Singh Negi, the FIR also names Normal Chand, Surya Boras, Kulwant Negi, Man Chand Negi, Ram Mohan, Jai Kishan, and Rakesh Kumar.
Superintendent of Police, Kinnaur, Abhishek S. confirmed that an investigation has been initiated based on the BJP’s written complaint.
BJP Reacts, Calls for Fair Probe
Addressing a press conference in Reckong Peo, BJP’s state media in-charge Karn Nanda criticized the act, calling it “disrespectful and politically charged.” BJP leaders also accused the district administration and police of functioning under the influence of the ruling party.
“This incident was carried out without any official permission and appears to be a calculated political stunt,” said Yashwant Singh Negi. “The effigy burning of a respected public leader like Jai Ram Thakur is not just condemnable, but also reflects the declining standards of political discourse. We demand a fair and impartial investigation.”
The matter is expected to generate further political heat as the Opposition pushes back against what it calls “state-sponsored lawlessness,” while the ruling party decries “selective outrage” over peaceful dissent.
