Himachal CM Sukhu targets BJP over paper leaks, education at youth Congress event

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing its previous government of allowing paper leaks, selling jobs and weakening the state’s education system. Addressing the Youth Congress and NSUI’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” program in Shimla, he also asserted that the Congress would return to power in the 2027 Assembly elections. Speaking to party workers and students at the Congress office, Sukhu said religion and faith do not belong to any one political party. He added that the Congress does not need a certificate from the BJP to prove its commitment to Sanatan traditions, and said people practice their faith through daily worship and religious customs.

The chief minister alleged that recruitment irregularities and paper leaks had become common during the BJP’s tenure, claiming jobs were distributed to favor party supporters. Referring to the police recruitment paper leak case, he said the Congress government, after coming to power, dissolved the Subordinate Services Selection Board, took action against those responsible, and established a new State Selection Commission to ensure transparent and fair recruitment.

Sukhu also criticized the Center’s Agniveer scheme, saying Himachal Pradesh has a long history of military service and has produced several Param Vir Chakra awardees. He claimed that the earlier system of long-term military service had been replaced with a four-year tenure under the Agniveer scheme and alleged that the state’s recruitment quota had also been reduced. He said the state government had completed recruitment for 1,000 police posts and would soon begin the recruitment process for another 850 vacancies.

Highlighting the education sector, Sukhu claimed that Himachal Pradesh had slipped to the 21st position in quality education in 2021. He alleged that the previous BJP government opened more than 650 educational institutions without adequate planning or teaching staff, and distributed financial benefits without long-term planning. He said reforms introduced by the present government had helped the state improve to the fifth position nationally in terms of educational quality. Recalling his political journey, Sukhu said he began his career in student politics and served as a Class Representative, Youth Congress General Secretary, NSUI leader and Pradesh Congress president before becoming a four-time MLA and later Chief Minister.

The chief minister also assured district Congress presidents that they would be given appropriate responsibilities in the organization and the government. He said they would be accommodated in grievance redressal or other committees, while adding that although it would not be possible to provide positions to everyone in boards and corporations, party workers would be given priority whenever opportunities arise.