Munish Sood
MANDI: Former BDC member Raju Thakur has launched a blistering attack on former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, accusing him of playing politics with disaster relief in his home segment Seraj.
Raju Thakur claimed that while Thunag — the stronghold of Jai Ram Thakur — received cheques, aid material and state machinery support after the recent disaster, Balichowki, equally devastated, has been left to starve.
“Why is relief being distributed like party favours? Is disaster aid also linked to vote banks?” Raju Thakur asked during a press conference in Mandi. “In Balichowki, Jai Ram Thakur comes only to offer condolences for the cameras. The people here need relief, not sympathy speeches.”
Congress also comes under fire
Raju Thakur didn’t spare the Congress either. He said Balichowki’s own leader, Vijay Pal Singh, has “chosen silence over responsibility” at a time when his people are crying for basic survival. “It seems both BJP and Congress are competing in neglect. One leader does photo-ops, the other hides in silence,” Raju Thakur charged.
Broken roads, no electricity, no ration
Balichowki residents are facing collapsed roads, power cuts for over a week, disrupted water supply, no mobile network and fast-depleting ration.
Pregnant women and patients are unable to reach hospitals. “The administration hides behind excuses of no budget and no machinery. This is not governance, but abandonment,” he said.
Says selective relief exposes ‘political hypocrisy’
By highlighting the contrast between Thunag and Balichowki, Raju Thakur accused politicians of turning relief into a political tool. “Seraj is one constituency, but it is being treated like two different vote banks. This disaster has exposed the hypocrisy of our leaders,” he added.
Local residents Pawan and advocate Pawan, present at the briefing, backed Raju Thakur’s allegations, warning that anger is rising in Balichowki and people will remember this betrayal during elections.
