Munish Sood, Kangra Airport
January 21 : Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur today launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government, accusing it of deliberately attempting to postpone Panchayati Raj elections under the cover of the Disaster Management Act. He termed the move an “assault on democracy” and said the government was afraid of facing the people.
Speaking to the media at Kangra airport after receiving a warm welcome from BJP workers, Jairam Thakur said the Congress government has completely failed on the governance front and is merely trying to somehow survive its tenure. He alleged that the situation within the government has become so fragile that even senior ministers and the Deputy Chief Minister are publicly questioning the Chief Minister’s decisions.
“The government is using the Disaster Act as an excuse to delay Panchayat elections. If the Disaster Act is in force, then why are roads not being constructed and why is the drainage system in such a pathetic condition? This double standard exposes the real intention of the government,” he said.
Jairam Thakur said the Congress government is scared of the public verdict and is trying to escape democratic accountability. “Panchayat elections should be held on time. Delaying them is nothing but a conspiracy against grassroots democracy,” he asserted.
Commenting on national politics, the Leader of Opposition said it was a matter of pride for the Bharatiya Janata Party that the party has got the youngest national president in its history. He said the appointment of Nitin Nabin proves that in BJP even a grassroots worker can rise to the top leadership. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision and said it was a moment of pride for party workers across the country, especially in Himachal Pradesh.
He also praised former BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda, saying that under his leadership the party achieved remarkable success in the Lok Sabha elections and several states, enhancing Himachal Pradesh’s stature at the national level.
Raising concern over the growing menace of drug abuse and chitta cases in the state, Jairam Thakur said BJP stands with the government in the fight against drugs but accused it of restricting itself to token programmes instead of taking strong and effective action. He demanded a concrete policy and strict enforcement to curb the drug menace.
Highlighting the purpose of his Kangra visit, he said that organisational meetings are being held across all four Lok Sabha constituencies to strengthen the party. In the Kangra-Chamba parliamentary constituency, BJP leaders and workers from all assembly segments will be engaged to further consolidate the organisation at the grassroots level.
He made it clear that BJP will oppose every “anti-democratic move” of the Congress government both on the streets and inside the Assembly, and will continue to press for timely conduct of Panchayati Raj elections.
