In a fresh political face-off in Himachal Pradesh, former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Speaking at a press conference in Mandi, Thakur accused the state government of misusing public funds by granting advertisements worth over Rs 2 crore to National Herald, a Congress-owned newspaper that reportedly has no circulation in the state.
Thakur’s remarks came in response to a recent statement by CM Sukhu, who had said that National Herald is a Congress publication and the government would continue to support it through advertisements. Jairam Thakur criticised this stance, stating that such actions expose the Congress government’s misuse of taxpayer money for party gains.
He alleged that the National Herald newspaper has long been under the control of the Gandhi family, which has used it to accumulate undisclosed assets, many of which are now under investigation. “This is a publication that doesn’t even distribute a single copy in Himachal Pradesh, and yet the state government has granted it advertisements worth over Rs 2 crore,” Thakur stated.
Highlighting the financial struggles faced by common citizens in Himachal, he said, “People are mortgaging their jewellery to afford medical treatment due to lack of government aid. Employees and pensioners are not receiving their dues on time. Yet, the Congress government is funneling crores to its party mouthpiece.”
Thakur further claimed that the Directorate of Public Relations generally issues advertisements at DAVP (Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity) rates, but in the case of National Herald, these norms were blatantly bypassed. “It seems the money was handed over as a donation, which is completely against the rules,” he said.
Calling Congress and corruption synonymous, Thakur said the National Herald issue is yet another example of the party’s legacy of institutional misuse and favoritism.
He also targeted Congress’s narrative that central investigative agencies are functioning at the behest of the central government. “It’s ironic and laughable that Chief Ministers, Deputy CMs, and Cabinet Ministers are protesting outside ED offices,” he said. “They forget that the investigation into the National Herald case began during their own government’s tenure.”
Thakur praised the Narendra Modi-led central government for allowing agencies to work independently and transparently. “Under Modi’s leadership, these institutions are finally operating without political pressure. BJP will make sure this truth reaches every corner of Himachal,” he added.
The controversy has added a new dimension to the ongoing political tussle in the state. It remains to be seen how CM Sukhu and the Congress leadership respond to these grave allegations.
