Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, December 22
The BJP has accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of prioritising favours for associates over public welfare, alleging misuse of the state’s AYUSH department to organise a cricket tournament. Senior BJP leader and legislator Sudhir Sharma said the state was grappling with unemployment, financial stress, staff and pensioners’ grievances and strained healthcare services, while the government’s focus appeared to be on sporting events for “friends and favourites”.
Referring to a recent official communication issued by the AYUSH department, Sharma alleged that a ministry linked to public health and traditional medicine was being diverted from its core mandate. “The purpose of the AYUSH department is to strengthen traditional systems of medicine, public health and research — not to deploy government resources to organise private events,” he said. He described the government’s approach as insensitive, adding: “The message seems to be: hold a cricket tournament and everything else can wait. Public concerns are being sidelined.”
He said that AYUSH doctors, pharmacists and staff were facing persistent problems, including shortages of resources, lack of personnel, pending payments and deteriorating infrastructure. He alleged that instead of addressing these issues, the government was using official letterheads and departmental machinery for publicity and patronage.
Questioning the role of the department, the BJP leader asked whether the AYUSH directorate had become an event management arm for the ruling party’s associates. He pointed to references in official correspondence seeking sponsorships and contributions as evidence of what he called the misuse of official position and authority.
Warning that the matter would be pursued, Sharma said the BJP would seek accountability from the Congress government over the alleged misuse of the AYUSH ministry, private use of public office and preferential treatment to associates. He said the opposition would continue to challenge what it described as a directionless and irresponsible administration, and would raise the issue at all appropriate forums.
The Congress government has not responded to the allegations so far.
