Munish Sood
Mandi
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s visit to Ner Chowk Medical College on Tuesday turned tense after local BJP leaders, led by Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi, staged a sit-in protest outside the college. The leaders are opposing the state government’s decision to shift Atal Medical and Research University from Balh to Sarkaghat.
The protestors said the move was unjustified and politically motivated. They claimed that the university, which has been operating successfully from Balh since 2019, has enough land for building a permanent campus and there was no need to relocate it.
“Why shift a well-functioning university?” asks MLA Gandhi
Speaking at the protest site, MLA Inder Singh Gandhi questioned the Chief Minister’s decision. “The university has been working well in Balh for the past several years. There is sufficient land available here for future expansion. We fail to understand why the Chief Minister wants to take it to Sarkaghat,” he said.
He further reminded that CM Sukhu had announced the relocation on August 15 and even instructed officials to identify land in Sarkaghat for the project. “This decision appears to be politically driven rather than based on public interest,” Gandhi added.
Protest likely to intensify
The BJP leader said that the protest was peaceful for now but warned that it could intensify if the government failed to respond. “We will welcome the Chief Minister during his visit today and present our demand before him. If he agrees to keep the university in Balh, we will end our protest. But if our concerns are ignored, the agitation will become stronger,” Gandhi said.
A politically sensitive issue in Mandi
The shifting of Atal Medical University has become a major issue in Mandi district, the political base of former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. The BJP has accused the Congress government of ignoring regional sentiments, while the ruling side maintains that the relocation is aimed at administrative convenience.
As CM Sukhu’s visit continues, all eyes are on how the government handles the growing anger in Balh — a region that played a key role in shaping Himachal’s political landscape.
