SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh is witnessing a disturbing decline in the language of political discourse as recent exchanges between elected representatives have taken a sharp turn towards personal attacks. The state, already grappling with political and economic challenges, is now seeing its leaders resort to unprecedented lows in their public statements.
Jagat Negi’s make-up jibe at Kangana
One of the most glaring examples came from Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, who took a swipe at Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut during the Assembly session. In a remark that sparked widespread controversy, Negi suggested that Kangana’s delayed visit to the state following the recent devastating cloudbursts was “due to her fear of her makeup getting washed away in the rain”.
This is not the first time Negi has targeted the actor. In the run-up to the recent Lok Sabha elections, he had mocked Kangana at a rally in Mandi. He alleged that Kangana was relying on her makeup to attract crowds, claiming that people wouldn’t recognise her without it.
Satti attacks Sukhu via CM’s wife
BJP MLA and former Himachal Pradesh party president Satpal Singh Satti also lowered the bar in political discourse by taking a jibe at Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday (September 3, 3034), Satti referred to the CM’s wife in his attack, saying, “Bhabhi ji (Dehra MLA Kamlesh Thakur) has come to the House for the first time.
If you say anything to the Chief Minister, then bhabhi ji will feel bad and might tell the CM at home that she didn’t want to come to the House as Sukhu was being insulted daily by Opposition leaders.”
Such remarks have raised concerns about the growing trend of dragging family members into political conflicts.
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Employee leader recently challenged minister
The situation is further complicated by the escalating tensions between the Himachal Pradesh government and the state’s employees. The Secretariat Employees Services Federation recently openly challenged Technical Education and TCP Minister Rajesh Dharmani, with federation president Sanjeev Sharma leading the charge.
Sharma boldly declared himself the “MLA of the Secretariat”, criticising Dharmani and hinting that CM Sukhu might regret appointing him as a minister. The conflict has become so intense that Sharma challenged Dharmani to contest the next Assembly elections from any constituency outside his home district Bilaspur, promising that the employees would campaign against him.
This decline in political discourse is not just confined to verbal spats in the Assembly. It has extended to public rallies, where Negi and other Congress leaders have previously attacked Kangana Ranaut. Negi, along with Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sunder Singh Thakur, accused Kangana of being out of touch with Himachali culture and criticised her for her perceived superficiality and self-promotion.
