Congress leader Vijay Pal Singh slams Jairam Thakur over petty politics, BJP’s governance failures in Mandi

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Vichar Vibhag Chairman, Vijay Pal Singh, criticised the Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, alleging that Thakur was engaging in petty politics.

Speaking to the media here today, Singh questioned the silence of the BJP leaders on the Adani issue, stating that the controversy surrounding the billionaire businessman was a national concern, with allegations of corruption in the United States. He praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue earlier and highlighted the recent attention the matter received internationally, including a US report on Adani's energy dealings.

Singh also lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, noting that the CM had prioritised the welfare of the state's vulnerable populations, including Divyang (differently-abled) children, widows, and senior citizens. Singh said CM Sukhu’s government had empowered Divyang children by granting them official rights and the ability to sue the state for any violation of rights. He also said that Sukhu's administration had successfully increased the state's revenue by Rs 2,200 crore through a new excise policy, while focusing on providing relief to families affected by rain disasters and offering up to Rs 7 lakh for the reconstruction of damaged homes.

Targeting Jairam Thakur, Singh criticised the former CM for his tenure, accusing him of indiscriminately spending government funds without focusing on generating revenue. He contrasted this with CM Sukhu’s approach, which focused on revenue generation and welfare. Singh also addressed Thakur's claims about the Central Government’s allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for an airport in Mandi’s Balh valley, demanding to know where the funds had gone and accusing Thakur of misleading the public. He further criticised the failed ‘Janmanch’ programme launched by Thakur during the previous BJP regime in the state, noting that it had squandered Rs 16,261 crore without benefiting people.

Singh pointed out that, during Thakur's five-year tenure, only 22,000 jobs were created, while CM Sukhu's government had already issued notifications for 20,000 new jobs in its first year. Singh also accused Thakur of plunging the state into heavy debt.

In addition, Singh took aim at the internal division within the BJP, mentioning rivalries between top leaders like JP Nadda, Anurag Thakur, Rajeev Bindal, and Jairam Thakur, leading to uncertainty in the party’s state politics.

Singh questioned why Jairam Thakur handed over the Janjehli tourism resort to the private sector and criticised him for mismanaging the Bhunter tourism building in Kullu during the party’s regime. He reiterated CM Sukhu’s commitment to expanding the Kangra airport to promote tourism in the state.

Singh’s remarks come as the political tension between Congress and BJP in Himachal Pradesh continues to intensify, with both parties engaging in sharp criticism over governance and development issues.

He was accompanied by Congress leaders Joginder Guleria, Dr Chander Shekhar, Dr Anil Kumar, and others.