Thakur Slams Govt Over Unfulfilled Power Promise
Former chief minister and leader of the opposition Jairam Thakur on Saturday accused the Himachal Pradesh government of reneging on its poll promise of providing 300 units of free electricity, alleging that instead, consumers are facing higher tariffs and added charges.
Thakur said the Congress had aggressively campaigned on the guarantee during the assembly elections, but failed to deliver after coming to power. He claimed the government had not only abandoned its promise but also increased the financial burden on consumers through revised tariffs and additional surcharges.
Alleged Rollback of Subsidies
The LoP alleged that the government effectively dismantled the earlier scheme that provided 125 units of free electricity and rolled back subsidies, resulting in a steep rise in power bills. He also criticised the imposition of a fuel and power purchase adjustment surcharge, saying it would further strain households and farmers.
Concerns Over Law and Order
Thakur further flagged concerns over rising crime and reported discord within the bureaucracy. Referring to recent reports of rifts among senior police officers, he termed the situation "alarming" and indicative of administrative failure. He also questioned the government's handling of serious criminal incidents, including recent murders, accusing chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of remaining a "silent spectator".
Leadership Crisis Alleged
Alleging deeper governance issues, Thakur said internal conflicts among IAS and IPS officers have exposed a leadership crisis, with the chief minister appearing unable to effectively steer the administration.
