Why Himachal CM Sukhu chanted ‘Radhe-Radhe’ in Dharamshala ?

Yog Raj Sharma

The North News

Shimla, December 1

A day after a video sparked controversy for showing Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu questioning schoolchildren for greeting him with “Radhe-Radhe”, the CM today raised the slogans ‘Radhe-Radhe’ in Dharamshala — a move seen as an attempt to counter rising criticism on social media. The earlier viral clip, where he asked students “Why are you saying Radhe-Radhe? Why not Namaste?”, has triggered political and religious debate, with the Himachal BJP calling the remark proof of an “anti-Sanatan mindset”. The Himachal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has attacked Sukhu over the incident. The party spokesperson Sandipani Bhardwaj alleged that the remark reflects what he called an “anti-Sanatan mindset”, arguing that the Chief Minister has previously made statements minimising Sanatan Dharma in a state with a predominantly Hindu population. Bhardwaj said the latest video, recorded after the assembly session in Kangra, shows the Chief Minister objecting when the children greeted him with “Radhe-Radhe”. “This is not just an objection to a word,” he said, “but a clear indication of his ideological discomfort.”