Sourabh Sood
Dharamshala: Setting aside political rivalry, leaders of the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP walked into the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on the final day of the winter session wearing jerseys emblazoned with the slogan “Chitta Mukt Himachal, Ek Naya Himachal”. The symbolic gesture underscored a rare display of bipartisan resolve to wage a united fight against the fast-spreading drug menace in the state.
While the House projected unity against narcotics, the session also witnessed sharp exchanges over other issues, including alleged irregularities in the Himcare health scheme. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told the Assembly that financial mismanagement under the scheme would be thoroughly examined. He informed that the Comptroller and Auditor General was already auditing the expenditure incurred.
Sukhu said the scheme, meant to facilitate free treatment for underprivileged families, was allegedly manipulated to extend benefits to private medical stores and hospitals. “Help has reached the needy, but misuse has also taken place,” he said, adding that actions violating the intent of the programme amounted to corruption.
The Chief Minister said principals and medical superintendents of medical colleges have been authorised to process Himcare cards for a limited period to ensure timely issuance without hurdles. The government, he assured, would soon enforce stricter mechanisms to curb irregularities. The clarification came in response to questions raised by BJP MLAs Vinod Kumar and Trilok Jamwal.
The Opposition later sought details on whether the government had hired any outsourced agency through the Information and Public Relations Department or any other channel, seeking clarity on the tenure of services and payments approved till October 31, 2025.
Tensions escalated when Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi moved a privilege notice against Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, demanding suitable action. The Speaker stated that the matter would be studied by the Assembly Secretariat before further steps were taken, triggering an uproar from both sides and forcing a 10-minute adjournment.
