Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has strongly denied allegations that his government is spying on the Leader of the Opposition, Jairam Thakur, using drones. Addressing reporters, CM Sukhu dismissed the accusations as “baseless” and assured a thorough investigation into the matter.
Sukhu announced that letters would be sent to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to determine if any surveillance is being conducted on Thakur by these agencies. He criticized Thakur for allegedly using such claims to stay in the news, accusing him of “walking out of the House without listening to anything.” Sukhu also pointed out that not all MLAs aligned with Thakur participated in the walkout, suggesting a lack of unity within the opposition.
“The Himachal government is not spying on anyone. This is a serious matter, and we will ensure it is thoroughly investigated,” Sukhu stated. He further accused the previous government, led by the opposition, of selling out Himachal Pradesh’s interests, particularly by reducing royalty rates on four power projects, which he claims contributed to the state’s economic decline. Sukhu warned that companies involved in these power projects could face state control if they do not comply with government conditions.
In response, Jairam Thakur reiterated his allegations, stating that the opposition is being denied adequate time to speak in the House. “We have been wearing black badges inside the House in protest. The BJP MLAs are not given the opportunity to discuss the issues they raise,” Thakur said. He accused the government of using drones for surveillance against him and the opposition.
Thakur also criticized the recent decision to defer salaries for the Chief Minister and ministers, labeling it a “political move.” He argued that instead of symbolic gestures, the government should focus on meaningful financial reforms.
The escalating dispute between the ruling government and the opposition has intensified, with both sides accusing each other of manipulating the situation to gain media attention.