BJP Demands Assembly Delay as Flood-Hit Himachal Faces CM Absence
Opposition slams CM Sukhu for attending events amid deadly floods.
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly descended into chaos as opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members fiercely demanded the deferment of the ongoing Monsoon session, citing the state’s severe flood crisis and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s absence while attending political events in Bihar. The uproar, marked by heated exchanges, led Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania to adjourn the session for 15 minutes.
BJP legislators, including Hansraj from Churah and Bharmour’s Janak Raj, highlighted the dire situation in Chamba, where Saach Pass is snowbound, roads are blocked, and thousands remain stranded, urging immediate government action to facilitate their travel to disaster-hit areas for relief efforts. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur criticized the government’s response, noting extensive damage to roads and communication networks in Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba, and appealed for accelerated relief operations.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri defended the government’s disaster management efforts, accusing the BJP of politicizing the crisis. He reported that excessive rainfall between August 24 and 27, including 99.6 mm in Chamba (1,789% above normal), caused losses of Rs 2,623.36 crore, with 158 deaths and 38 missing since June 20.
Additionally, 747 houses were completely destroyed, and 2,772 partially damaged, while 3,269 Manimahesh Yatra pilgrims, including 1,259 women and 280 children, were rescued. Major highways, including Pathankot-Chamba and Manali-Leh, remain closed due to landslides. Agnihotri emphasized the government’s round-the-clock efforts, with the Chief Secretary coordinating with district officials to manage the crisis.
The BJP’s call for deferment gained traction as Speaker Pathania, representing Chamba’s Bhatiyyat constituency, acknowledged the crisis’s severity and expressed willingness to postpone the session if both sides agreed. The opposition’s accusations of government apathy, coupled with Sukhu’s absence during one of Himachal’s worst natural disasters, intensified the political clash.
With Chamba, Kullu, and other regions facing unprecedented devastation, the demand for prioritizing relief over legislative proceedings underscores the urgent need for unified action to address the state’s humanitarian crisis, as the government faces mounting pressure to expedite rescue and restoration efforts.
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