"Rajiv Gandhi's vision guides Himachal's governance," CM Sukhvinder Sukhu pays tribute to former PM on his birth anniversary

Sukhu was speaking to reporters after paying tribute to Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary and participating in a programme where the Sadbhavana pledge was administered. He appealed to the people of Himachal Pradesh to observe the day as Sadbhavana Diwas and recalled Rajiv Gandhi's contribution to the unity and integrity of the country.

The Chief Minister said Rajiv Gandhi had sacrificed his life for the nation and was the second Prime Minister after Independence to lose his life in office.

He said lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 was among Rajiv Gandhi's major democratic reforms, giving young people a greater role in deciding who should govern the country.

Sukhu also credited Rajiv Gandhi with advancing women's political participation through reservation in local bodies. He said women now account for nearly 54 per cent of representatives in Panchayati Raj institutions in Himachal Pradesh, describing it as an important social transformation.

On education, Sukhu said his government was establishing around 68 Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools in the state. He said these would be developed as model government schools and that additional funds would be provided to government schools from the coming financial year.

He said Rajiv Gandhi's emphasis on quality education was also reflected in the establishment of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya system, which had enabled children from economically weaker sections to access quality education.

The Chief Minister said the state government was also working to provide nutritious food to children studying in government schools through the day-boarding school initiative.

Sukhu said the state government's Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Scheme was aimed at strengthening farmers' incomes and the rural economy.

Under the scheme, he said, farmers were receiving 80 per kg for wheat, 50 per kg for maize, 30 per kg for ginger and around 150 per kg for turmeric.

He said these prices were being provided under the state government's natural farming initiative and were not part of a Central government scheme.

Recalling his visit to Hamirpur, Sukhu said the government had procured wheat from farmers at 80 per kg and deposited nearly 23 lakh directly into their bank accounts.

He also said North India's first testing laboratory related to natural farming had been established in Hamirpur to scientifically determine whether agricultural produce was naturally or non-naturally cultivated.

Speaking on the Congress Working Committee meeting, Sukhu said discussions were held on various issues and that the party would formulate its strategy and programmes, which would subsequently be taken to the people.

Asked about Himachal's rights and pending issues with the Centre, he said he would travel to Delhi after the Assembly session to pursue the state's financial and other legitimate claims.

He also referred to the pending decision concerning the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Kishau Dam project, saying a favourable outcome could have major financial implications for Himachal Pradesh.

Sukhu said the state could earn an additional 1,500 crore annually if its claims were upheld, adding that Himachal had been pursuing the matter for nearly 15 years.

He said the state had assembled a team of senior lawyers to pursue its case and asserted that the benefits of Himachal's water resources should accrue to the people of the state while also benefiting Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan.

On the Monsoon Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly beginning Friday, Sukhu said the 10-day session was the longest Monsoon Session held in the state in nearly two decades.

He accused the Opposition of attempting to avoid discussion by staging walkouts and carrying placards, and urged BJP legislators, particularly Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, to participate in debates with facts.

"Come openly and speak. We will give you adequate time," Sukhu said, adding that the Opposition was free to walk out or enter the visitors' gallery but should not prevent the government from speaking.

He said his government possessed documentary evidence on several issues and would bring the facts before the public through a proposed White Paper.

Sukhu said the government wanted the White Paper to establish how public resources in Himachal Pradesh were allegedly misused or "looted" in the past and why it happened.

He said the government had been elected for five years and was duty-bound to protect the state's resources, adding that the people would ultimately judge its performance.

Rejecting BJP allegations that action against individuals was motivated by a political vendetta, Sukhu said the government took action to protect the state's resources.

"If people have looted the state's resources, cases cannot be avoided merely because they belong to a particular political background," he said.

Referring to ongoing investigations and alleged irregularities, he said further documentary evidence would emerge and reiterated that the government had taken a commitment to eliminating corruption.

Sukhu also referred to an alleged irregularity involving bills related to hysterectomy procedures, questioning how such bills could be generated for male patients.

The Chief Minister also spoke at length about social media, news portals and allegations of misinformation.

He said journalists should criticise the government if necessary but urged them to base their reports on facts and avoid creating a misleading atmosphere.

Sukhu said several web-based platforms had faced action under the law and argued that the government was not responsible for every FIR filed against an individual or platform.

He also warned against what he described as a growing trend of blackmailing through mobile phones and social media.

"Put forward your views against the government, but do so truthfully and on the basis of facts," he said.

On recruitment, Sukhu said his government had acted against those responsible for paper leaks and had dissolved the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission in Hamirpur after irregularities came to light.

He said people allegedly involved in selling examination papers had been sent to jail and claimed that his government had resisted pressure while pursuing the cases.

Sukhu said recruitment was now being undertaken on a large scale and that the government would present a comprehensive account of recruitments in December.

He said there had been no paper leak in recent recruitment examinations and cited education-related recruitments, batch-wise appointments and Assistant Staff Nurse examinations as examples.

The Chief Minister also said the government intended to reduce dependence on outsourcing, particularly in the health and education sectors, and planned to end the SMC system by increasing regular teacher appointments.

Sukhu said his government had also changed the recruitment process for the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission by ensuring that marks obtained in written examinations were counted along with interview marks.

He argued that previously, written examination marks were not included in the final assessment while interview marks were counted, which could disadvantage candidates who performed well in written examinations.

"Now both written and personal interview marks will be counted for preparing the final merit," he said, claiming that the change would leave little scope for recommendations or favouritism.

The Chief Minister said the same principle had been applied in recruitment of doctors and other posts, with merit being determined by combining written and interview performance.

He also criticised the BJP over its social media campaign and alleged that some platforms were being sponsored to spread negative news about the government, while reiterating that his government would continue to respond with facts and documentary evidence. (ANI)