Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur has launched a scathing attack on the ruling Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, accusing it of attempting to "sell the state for personal gains." The criticism comes a day after the state cabinet gave its nod for the development of a modern township at Shitalpur in Solan district, located near Chandigarh.
Allegations of a Massive Land Scam
In a strongly-worded statement issued on Wednesday, Thakur alleged that the government is persisting with a "Himachal on sale" approach. He claimed the cabinet's decision is a facade to hand over precious state land and resources to a select few. Approximately 3,485 bighas of prime land in Shitalpur are at the centre of the controversy.
Thakur presented a stark contrast in land valuation to underline his allegations. He stated that while the official circle rate values the land at around Rs 754 crore, its actual market value is exponentially higher. "Due to its strategic proximity to Chandigarh, the true market value of this land exceeds Rs 5,000 crore," the BJP leader asserted. He warned that this discrepancy could pave the way for large-scale corruption, benefiting the government's "close business associates and friends."
Ecological and Local Governance Concerns Raised
Beyond the financial allegations, the former Chief Minister also highlighted severe ecological threats. The proposed township falls in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) region, an area whose forests and land are critical for maintaining the ecological balance of the state. Thakur expressed deep concern that disturbing this fragile ecosystem would cause irreversible harm to Himachal Pradesh's environment.
Furthermore, Thakur drew parallels with another contentious issue in Sirmaur district. He pointed to the case of 134 bighas of land in Morni Hills' Mahol Janot panchayat (Pachhad Assembly constituency), which was initially earmarked for the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) but is now allegedly being prepared for allotment to private builders. He claimed a similar pattern of pressure is being applied in Shitalpur, where panchayat representatives are being coerced to issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the land transfer.
A Pattern of Exploitation?
Jairam Thakur's statement frames the Shitalpur township approval not as an isolated incident, but as part of a sustained policy. He accused the state government of constantly exploring ways to hand over the state's land and natural resources under various guises. The opposition's narrative is clear: they view this as a systematic attempt to monetize and transfer public assets for private benefit, jeopardizing both the state's treasury and its ecological health.
The ball is now in the court of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government to respond to these serious allegations of undervaluation, potential corruption, and environmental negligence. The controversy is set to intensify political debates in the hill state, with the opposition vowing to keep the pressure on.
