Bilaspur (S Gopal Puri & Munish Sood)
Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri launched a fierce attack on the opposition BJP, accusing them of spreading “baseless” claims and attempting to destabilize the Congress government. Agnihotri’s remarks came during a rally at Luhnu Ground in Bilaspur, where the Congress government celebrated its two-year anniversary on December 11, 2024. The Deputy Chief Minister was particularly critical of the BJP’s recent focus on the so-called “toilet tax,” calling out former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Jairam Thakur, for misleading the public.
In a charged tone, Agnihotri challenged Thakur, stating, “Jairam Thakur should do an experiment. He should sit in a toilet for 24 hours and check if he’s billed for it or not.” The remark, delivered amid a large crowd and captured by several media houses, was aimed at mocking the BJP’s claims regarding the controversial toilet tax, which had become a point of contention in state politics. Agnihotri’s bold statement was met with applause from Congress supporters, who rallied behind the government’s stance.
The Deputy Chief Minister did not hold back as he addressed the BJP’s continuous attempts to “overthrow” the Congress government. “Liars, show us how you plan to bring down the government,” Agnihotri challenged the opposition. He made it clear that the BJP’s attempts to create instability in the state would not succeed. “This government will not fall. The BJP’s efforts to destabilize it will only fall flat,” Agnihotri asserted, reinforcing his confidence in the Congress leadership.
Agnihotri also took aim at the BJP for mocking Congress leaders, particularly Rahul Gandhi. “They mock Rahul Gandhi and then accuse us of corruption and incompetence. The people of Himachal Pradesh cannot be fooled anymore,” he declared. Agnihotri continued to counter the BJP’s claims on unpaid salaries and pensions, saying, “Jai Ram Thakur and his team have been spreading lies about unpaid salaries. If these allegations are true, let them prove it. Otherwise, Jai Ram should resign immediately.”
The Deputy CM turned the tables on the BJP’s claims of working for the state’s interests. “While we focus on creating jobs and improving infrastructure, BJP leaders are in Delhi sabotaging our efforts. They are more interested in spreading lies than in serving the people,” Agnihotri said. He also criticized the BJP for taking credit for projects that were not their own, particularly highlighting the Dhalli bus stand. “They claim to have built the Dhalli bus stand, but we know the truth. We are the ones delivering on our promises with new buses, electric vehicles, and crucial projects like ropeways,” Agnihotri emphasized.
The speech reinforced the Congress government’s resolve to focus on development and dismiss the opposition’s distractions as they continue their governance.
