Ahead of the budget session of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu led a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) on Monday morning. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of shifting blame onto the Congress government for their failures and staging walkouts during assembly sessions.
Addressing mediapersons, CM Sukhu launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing them of conveniently forgetting their past mistakes while attempting to discredit the Congress government.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now trying to shift the blame on us for their own failures. I am happy that the BJP attended the all-party meeting before the Assembly session this time. Earlier, they planned walkouts and didn’t even show up for discussions. Now, they are demanding an extension of the session, which exposes their double standards,” CM Sukhu said.
The Chief Minister criticized the BJP for consistently walking out of Assembly sessions when important discussions were required. He pointed out the irony of their sudden interest in extending the session.
“Earlier, whenever the Assembly session occurred, the BJP’s primary job was to stage walkouts. Our job has always been to serve the people. Today, they are demanding an extension of the session. If they agree to sit through the session, we are more than willing to extend the proceedings till 7:00 PM every day or even prolong the session by five more days,” Sukhu stated.
CM Sukhu further accused the BJP of lacking commitment to constructive dialogue, highlighting their walkout from the last all-party meeting.
“In the last all-party meeting, the BJP chose to walk out. Later, I learned from some Congress members that their high command scolded them for not attending the meeting. This clearly shows their internal rift. BJP is now divided into five factions in Himachal Pradesh, and their internal conflict is more visible than ever,” CM Sukhu said.
He also criticized the BJP for sidelining former Congress leaders who had joined their party, stating that despite their prominence in their respective constituencies, they were not being allowed to play significant roles within the BJP.
“There are some former Congress leaders who joined the BJP. These individuals were champions in their respective constituencies, but now they are not even allowed to speak or play a significant role. The BJP leadership in Himachal Pradesh is treating them as outsiders, which reflects their internal discord,” he said.
Shifting his focus to national politics, CM Sukhu extended his support to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who he claimed was facing political persecution from central agencies.
“I firmly believe there should not be any political persecution against former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel. He served the people with honesty and transparency during his tenure. Harassing him through investigative agencies is unacceptable,” he stated.
CM Sukhu also congratulated the Indian cricket team for their recent Champions Trophy victory. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to Captain Rohit Sharma and the entire team, inviting them to Himachal Pradesh for a state-sponsored retreat.
“I want to congratulate Rohit Sharma and Team India for winning the Champions Trophy. They have made the country proud. I extend an open invitation to them to visit the scenic beauty of Himachal Pradesh. They are welcome to stay at any luxurious hotel here with their families, and our government will bear all the expenses and ensure the best facilities,” said CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
The Budget Session, which began today, is expected to witness heated debates and discussions on critical state issues. The Congress government has promised to address all concerns raised by the opposition while ensuring smooth legislative functioning.