Dharamshala (S Gopal Puri)
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, has shown his strong stance against corruption, by supporting debate on the issue in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. However, discrepancies between his statement in the house and the version circulated to the media have raised serious concerns about possible tampering, with many media outlets unknowingly carrying the incorrect name.
Inside the assembly, the Chief Minister specifically mentioned the company “Indofarm Pvt Ltd” during his address. Yet, in the official reply shared with the media, the company’s name was inexplicably altered to “Indo Pharma.” This change is troubling, as there is reportedly no firm named “Indo Pharma”. In contrast, Indofarm is a prominent company reportedly in the process of launching its Initial Public Offering (IPO), with significant assets, perhaps including land allotted under the previous BJP government as stated by CM in house.
The alteration has raised legal and ethical questions about whether this was a clerical mistake or a deliberate attempt to mislead. Such discrepancies could impact governance credibility, especially as they pertain to a firm already under scrutiny.
Indofarm has faced controversy recently, with the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board ordering the disconnection of its power supply for non-compliance. The action, directed by court orders received on December 3rd, was delayed until December 5th. During this period, a senior official from the Industries Department was allegedly seen lobbying media houses not to reveal the company’s name. Furthermore, this official reportedly pressured the HP State Electricity Board Limited to postpone the disconnection.
The delayed power disconnection and subsequent name alteration in the Chief Minister’s reply have triggered speculation about internal sabotage within the administration. Such actions risk undermining the CM’s anti-corruption stance and raise doubts about bureaucratic transparency.
This incident underscores the need for immediate corrective measures. It is imperative for the government to investigate how and why the company’s name was changed and to hold those responsible accountable. The Chief Minister’s intentions may be clear, but discrepancies like these highlight the challenges of ensuring transparency and integrity within government processes.
