Govt not answering questions, treating Assembly like public meeting: Jai Ram Thakur

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Leader of Opposition accuses Himachal government of avoiding factual replies and questions decisions on institutions, pensions and employee dues.

Shimla, September 1

Himachal Pradesh Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur accused the state government of failing to provide factual answers to questions raised in the Assembly, alleging that the Chief Minister delivers speeches in the House as if addressing a public meeting. He said this was affecting the Assembly’s dignity.

Thakur said institutions had been opened during the BJP government based on demands from the public and panchayats. He alleged that the present government shut down 2,035 institutions after coming to power and later reopened 362 of them, including 123 at the same locations.

Questioning the decision, Thakur asked why the institutions were closed if they had to be reopened later. He alleged that the move was politically motivated. On the government’s explanation regarding low student enrolment in schools, he questioned how the government could have determined the situation immediately after taking office.

Thakur said the BJP would review decisions taken during the present government’s five-year term if it returned to power. He said decisions found to be against public interest could be cancelled, alleging that several decisions had been taken in the interests of “friends”.

On the protest by pensioners at Chaura Maidan, Thakur said those who had served the state throughout their lives were now forced to protest for their rights. He questioned why employees were holding repeated demonstrations if the government was genuinely employee-friendly.

He alleged that retired HRTC employees were not receiving pensions, while HPTDC employees had not received salaries for months. He also raised the issues of pending medical reimbursements and dearness relief payments, and said the government was not taking the pensioners’ 16-point demands seriously.

Thakur further alleged that development had stalled over the past four years and accused the government of discontinuing schemes introduced by the BJP. He claimed the government’s focus appeared to be on completing its five-year term rather than presenting a development agenda before the people.

On questions about attempts to bring down the government, Thakur said the BJP was not trying to topple it. However, he added that if the government fell because of its own failures, the BJP would not step in to save it, saying political circumstances could change at any time.

Reiterating his stand on reviewing the government’s decisions, Thakur said a review would not only mean an examination of the decisions but could also include scrapping those found to be against public interest. He acknowledged that some decisions may have been positive but claimed there were few.

Thakur said the BJP would review all decisions after coming to power and take further action based on public interest.