Chewadi panchayat officials step down after 12-day protest, accuse govt of ignoring concerns
Munish Sood
SHIMLA/MANDI:
In a dramatic turn of events, the entire panchayat of Chewadi village under the Shimla (Rural) constituency, represented by Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, has resigned en masse in protest against the opening of a liquor vend in the area.
The move follows a 12-day-long agitation led predominantly by local women, who allege that the government’s apathy and the police’s harsh response have forced them to take this extreme step.
Panchayat pradhan Chhavindra Singh Pal, up-pradhan, ward members, mahila mandal members and members of the local Nasha Nivaran Committee jointly submitted their resignations after what they called a “betrayal” by the very administration meant to protect their interests.
The crisis erupted after the Excise Department opened a liquor vend in Khera village, falling under Chewadi Panchayat, on May 23. Villagers, particularly women, have been staging protests since the outlet opened, raising alarms over its proximity to residential areas and the potential for increased social unrest — especially with a large influx of migrant workers employed at a nearby electricity department project.
Women activists leading the protest allege that instead of addressing their concerns, the police registered FIRs against them. “We were only trying to safeguard our homes and children from the growing menace of alcohol,” said a protester, adding, “but the state punished us instead of listening to us.”
Govt goes into silence, minister comes under fire
Despite repeated efforts to reach authorities, including written appeals to the Excise Department, verbal communication with the local SDM and a direct meeting with Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Singh, no action was taken. “When even the representative of the constituency, a cabinet minister himself, turns a blind eye, what hope is left for ordinary villagers?” asked Pradhan Chhavindra Singh Pal.
The pradhan further said that the state government, on one hand, talks about drug de-addiction and safeguarding youth, but on the other hand, allows liquor vends to function against the will of the community. “It’s a matter of moral responsibility, not just governance. The double standards of the administration have forced us to resign,” he said.
Call for immediate action
Following the mass resignations, the panchayat has given the state government a three-day ultimatum to shut down the liquor vend, failing which a larger agitation is likely. The villagers have already held multiple gram sabhas and vowed to escalate the matter if ignored again.
Political analysts say this development could become a significant flashpoint for the Sukhu government and a personal setback for Vikramaditya Singh, who now faces mounting pressure from his own constituency. The situation underscores a growing disconnect between the government’s public welfare narrative and ground-level implementation.
