Shimla (Munish Sood)
The Himachal Pradesh Congress, under the leadership of state president Pratibha Singh, organised a protest march to Raj Bhavan in Shimla as part of the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) nationwide call.
The march was marked by raising of slogans against the Narendra Modi-led central government, with a focus on issues ranging from Manipur unrest to allegations of corruption involving industrialist Gautam Adani.
Addressing the gathering, Pratibha Singh launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Modi, accusing him of indifference towards pressing national issues. The Congress leader said, “Manipur has been burning in the fire of violence for the past one and a half years. Crimes against women, including rape, have created an atmosphere of lawlessness. Many lives have been lost, yet the Prime Minister has not bothered to visit the state even once during this crisis.”
Adani allegations take centre-stage
Pratibha also referred to allegations of corruption against Gautam Adani raised in a US court, terming it a “massive scandal” that has exposed the BJP-Adani nexus. “The accusations by the US have revealed the corruption, fraud and deceit in the BJP-Adani alliance. It’s evident that the Prime Minister is more concerned about safeguarding the interests of his friend Gautam Adani than addressing the struggles of ordinary Indians,” she alleged.
The Congress leader criticised the government for allegedly manipulating coal imports, leading to inflated domestic coal prices and a subsequent rise in electricity tariffs. “This price hike directly impacts the common consumer. The entire country is paying the price so that one individual can grow richer,” she said.
Rising inflation and governance failures
The Congress leader also highlighted other issues plaguing the nation, including rising inflation, increasing unemployment and crimes against women. She slammed the government for failing to address these challenges, stating, “The country is grappling with a serious economic crisis, but the central government has turned a blind eye to the struggles of the common people.”
