Market. Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri looked very angry at the rally organized during the celebration of three years of Sukhu government in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. During this, he also scolded CM Sukhu. Deputy CM said that a large number of people have come here and their work will be done only when the CM holds the baton in his hand. He said that it has been two years. Mukesh is a satisfied man.
In the rally, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri made sharp attacks on the opposition and bureaucracy. He said that today’s huge gathering is testifying that the Congress government is moving forward taking the people along. This crowd is a warning to those who are thinking that they will come back to power without any hard work. The Deputy Chief Minister said that two years are left and Congress will fulfill all its promises—be it giving Rs 1500 to women or 300 units of free electricity. He said the government has taken an oath to eliminate ‘small thinking’ and anyone – be it an officer, an employee or a leader – who conspires against the government will be dealt with sternly.
Agnihotri also directly warned the bureaucracy from the stage. He said that the officers who are attending the houses of BJP leaders or conspiring while the government is in power will be dealt with strictly. Using words like “will be dealt with in the dark of night”, he indicated that the Congress government will not tolerate any conspiracy. He clearly said that now the work will not be done like this and no concession will be given to those officers who are found to have ‘double character’.
Agnihotri said that Congress is the heir of the party which created Himachal. Had it not been for the support of Indira Gandhi and the Nehru-Gandhi family, the state would not have got the status of a full state today. He said that the role of Dr. YS Parmar can never be forgotten. He reminded that BJP was against the formation of Himachal at that time and was supporting Maha Punjab, while Congress gave shape to Himachal.
Referring to natural disasters, he said that from 2022 to 2025, severe devastation was seen in the state. Many families were uprooted and many people went missing. The Deputy Chief Minister said that for the first time in the history of Himachal, such a huge relief amount has been released. About Rs 8 lakh per affected family and an amount of more than Rs 4500 crore has been made in the relief package. He said that the government is continuously helping the people, but the sad thing is that BJP leaders are trying to stop the rights of the state by going to Delhi.
Mukesh Agnihotri alleged that the Prime Minister had announced Rs 1500 crore, but BJP leaders are advocating not to allow this amount to be released in Delhi. Regarding OPS, he said that the Central Government withheld Rs 1600 crore and put pressure on it to be closed. The Deputy Chief Minister urged the Chief Minister on the stage itself to make OPS legally permanent so that no one can snatch away the rights of the employees.
‘The Center is continuously creating obstacles and Himachal BJP is also involved in this’
He claimed that from imposing a cap on Himachal’s budget to stopping foreign funding, the Center is continuously creating obstacles at every level and Himachal BJP leaders are involved in this. He reminded that before the formation of the Congress government, the state had a debt of Rs 75,000 crore and employee liabilities of Rs 12,000 crore, but in 36 months the government has continuously released salaries and pensions. He also gave a strong warning to those spreading false propaganda about HRTC and said that 37 conductors were regularised, 9000 employees were given OPS and pension claims worth Rs 150 crore were settled. He also accused BJP of withholding Rs 1200 crore from Jal Jeevan Mission. The Deputy Chief Minister said that payments to contractors are being stopped because BJP leaders are stalling the files of Himachal at the Centre. He said that despite the difficult circumstances, the government has brought development in the state back on track and big projects like Bulk Drug Park are being completed rapidly.
