Unprecedented dharna sets fiery tone for winter session on opening day
S Gopal Puri
DHARAMSHALA: In a striking reversal of roles, the ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh opened the winter session of the Assembly with a high-decibel protest against the Opposition BJP, targeting Churah MLA Hans Raj, who is facing allegations of s*exual assault under the POCSO Act.
Congress legislators gathered inside the Assembly complex at Tapovan and staged a sit-in, demanding the BJP leader’s immediate resignation. The unusual sight of ruling party MLAs holding a dharna, a method employed by the Opposition, instantly altered the political landscape on Day 1 of the session.
Party leaders said that by allowing Hans Raj to continue as a legislator, the BJP was “morally compromised” and had forfeited any right to lecture the government on issues of governance or ethics. Chanting slogans and displaying placards, Congress MLAs sought to put the BJP on the defensive even before the session’s formal proceedings began.
Congress slams BJP leadership for silence on sexual abuse allegations
Senior Congress leader and Cabinet Minister Jagat Singh Negi came down heavily on the BJP leadership, accusing it of refusing to confront the allegations against its MLA. Negi claimed that the BJP had repeatedly attempted to divert public attention from the POCSO case while continuing to question the government on law and order issues.
“The BJP should look within. Their leaders are facing allegations of sexual exploitation, yet their top leadership has chosen silence. When it comes to their own, they turn away instead of taking action,” Negi said.
Congress members argued that the BJP’s moral posturing collapses when one of its legislators stands accused under a stringent child-protection law. They said Hans Raj’s continuation as an MLA sends a disturbing message at a time when crimes against women and children are under increased public scrutiny.
BJP on back foot as Congress seeks narrative control
The protest is widely seen as a calculated move by the Congress to seize early control over the session’s political narrative. With the BJP preparing to corner the government on issues such as the delay in panchayati raj elections, flood-related damage, administrative vacancies and school mergers, the ruling party has counterattacked by highlighting what it calls the Opposition’s “double standards”.
Congress strategists believe that by focusing public attention on the charges against Hans Raj, they can blunt the BJP’s offensive and push the opposition to respond to uncomfortable questions about accountability inside its own ranks.
Heated session expected as both sides prepare for confrontation
The tension triggered by the Congress protest has set the tone for a contentious eight-day winter session in Tapovan. With debates scheduled on disaster mitigation, infrastructure development, vacant posts, school consolidation and law-and-order issues, both parties appear ready for sharp exchanges in the coming days.
While the BJP is likely to raise the delay in panchayati raj elections and alleged administrative failures, the ruling party has made it clear that it will not hesitate to confront the Opposition over what it calls “ethical inconsistencies and political silence” on serious crimes involving its own MLAs.
