CM Sukhu says Priyanka Gandhi may visit Deori in October

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CM Sukhu says Priyanka Gandhi’s Deori School visit likely in October, hints at early Cabinet expansion and defends cadre rationalisation decision

Shimla , August 18

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday hit out at the BJP over the non-release of the Rs 1,500-crore assistance announced by the Center, saying BJP leaders should go below Parwanoo and raise issues concerning the interests of the state.

CM Sukhu also said Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may visit Deori School in October after she could not attend a scheduled program there due to adverse weather conditions.

Sukhu said Priyanka Gandhi was scheduled to visit the school and interact with students but could not travel to Mandi due to bad weather. He said she had earlier inspected the old damaged school building following the Mandi disaster and had expressed her desire to attend its inauguration.

The Chief Minister said his political adviser read out Priyanka Gandhi’s message to the students during Tuesday’s program. He added that her visit would likely be rescheduled for October.

On the proposed Cabinet expansion, Sukhu said it would happen soon. He said the first round of discussions with the Congress high command had been completed and the expansion would take place after the second round of talks and approval from the party leadership.

On the reduction of IAS, IPS and IFS cadres, Sukhu said Himachal Pradesh needed officers but only within a certain limit. He said having more officers than required increased the financial burden on the state and that the government had taken the decision with this in mind.

The Chief Minister also criticized the BJP over the Assembly session, saying former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had never convened a 10-day session during his tenure. Sukhu said the session could be extended if the Opposition wanted, but issues should be debated meaningfully. He added that the ruling party would also question the Opposition during the session.

Responding to criticism from the BJP state president, Sukhu said his government was providing employment opportunities to young people and cited appointments to posts including JBTs, lecturers, assistants and staff nurses. He reiterated that his government would not allow any question paper to be leaked.

On the Rs 1,500-crore assistance announced by the Prime Minister, Sukhu said BJP leaders should go below Parwanoo and work for the interests of Himachal Pradesh. He alleged that BJP leaders were focused on social media and accused them of running a campaign against him.

Sukhu claimed that around 50 people had been deployed at the BJP headquarters, Deep Kamal, to manage social media and spread propaganda against him. He also referred to allegations about a plot he had purchased around 20 years ago for Rs 14 lakh, saying its value had since risen to around Rs 2 crore, but that the issue was being used to target him politically.