The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered the attachment of Himachal Bhawan in Delhi’s Mandi House after the state government failed to pay ₹64 crore owed to Seli Hydropower Co. Ltd. The order comes amid mounting criticism from the BJP, with leaders accusing the Congress-led government of financial mismanagement and policy failures.
The attachment order, issued on Monday, followed the state government’s failure to deposit the required amount despite earlier deadlines. The court stated, “Delay in deposit of the award amount by the State entails interest on a daily basis, which has to be paid from the public exchequer.” The court also directed a fact-finding inquiry to identify officers responsible for the delay, stating that the interest accrued will be recovered personally from the erring officials. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 6.
BJP Attacks Congress for Mismanagement
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, addressing the media, criticised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s “khatakhat economics” as the root cause of the financial crisis. “This proves there is only a mess within the ‘khatakhat’ economy of Rahul Gandhi,” he said. “Due to his economics, Himachal Bhawan is about to be auctioned. The Chief Minister was busy finding out who ate his ‘samosa.’”
Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur also attacked the Congress government led by Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, accusing it of destroying the state. “The present government has completely destroyed Himachal Pradesh. Investments in the hydro sector have dried up, and agreements with SJVN, NTPC, and NHPC are now being questioned,” Thakur said. He claimed that the state’s financial crisis is worsening and warned that the auction of Himachal Bhawan could set a precedent for more such cases.
Advocate General Calls it Routine, CM Promises Review
Himachal Pradesh Advocate General Anup Kumar Rattan downplayed the attachment order, calling it a “normal routine process.” He said, “This became news because the High Court mentioned the possibility of auctioning Himachal Bhawan.”
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu responded by saying he has taken note of the situation and will review the order. “The upfront premium is based on a policy established in 2006, when I was the main architect. Our government went to the High Court against the arbitration order and had to deposit Rs 64 crore. We will study this order further,” Sukhu said.
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Financial Crisis Deepens
The issue of unpaid dues has further highlighted the financial challenges faced by Himachal Pradesh under the Congress government. BJP leaders pointed out that decisions taken in the past two years have caused significant setbacks for the state, especially in the hydro sector. Thakur expressed concern that the financial situation could escalate to the point where other state properties, including the secretariat, might face a similar fate.
The High Court’s order has drawn attention to the government’s handling of legal and financial matters, sparking a political war of words between the BJP and Congress as the state grapples with its mounting economic challenges.