Nahan, September 26, 2026: BJP Himachal Pradesh President Dr Rajeev Bindal launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, alleging that the ruling dispensation was encouraging a culture of political intimidation and lawlessness in the state.

Referring to the Congress protest outside the Election Department office in Shimla, Dr Bindal said the incidents reported during the demonstration raised serious questions about respect for public property and the rule of law. Media reports confirm that Congress workers staged a protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), wrote “Vote Chor” on the walls and signboard of the Election Department premises and burnt effigies during the demonstration. Senior Congress leaders, including state Congress president Vinay Kumar, party in-charge Rajni Patil and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, were reported to have participated.
Dr Bindal further alleged that a police vehicle was damaged, police personnel were intimidated and a threat was made to set a government office on fire. He demanded that these specific allegations be investigated on the basis of CCTV footage, video recordings, police records and eyewitness accounts, and that action be taken strictly in accordance with law wherever an offence is established.
“The Congress government, its ministers and ruling-party leaders are creating an atmosphere of lawlessness and political intimidation. When senior leaders and ministers are present, their responsibility is to ensure that a political demonstration remains peaceful, not to allow the situation to deteriorate,” Dr Bindal said.
He added, “There is an old saying, ‘Saiyan bhaye kotwal, ab dar kahe ka’—when those in authority are perceived to be on your side, there is little fear of consequences. If a BJP worker burns an effigy, an FIR is registered; if BJP workers raise slogans, they face police cases. The same standard of law must apply when allegations of vandalism or damage to public property are made against members of the ruling party.”
Dr Bindal demanded that all CCTV and video evidence from the protest be preserved, the extent of damage to public property be officially assessed and responsibility fixed after an impartial investigation.
Solan protest reflects discontent within Congress: Bindal
Referring to a Congress programme in Solan where party workers staged a symbolic demonstration by playing a been before a buffalo, Dr Bindal said the episode reflected dissatisfaction within the ruling party itself.
“If Congress leaders in Solan believe that the Chief Minister is not listening to them or that their district is being neglected, they should take those concerns directly to the Chief Minister. Taking an internal political dispute to the streets does not solve the problems of Solan,” he said.
Congress should support allegations against Election Commission with evidence
Turning to the Congress campaign against the Election Commission, Dr Bindal said every political party has a democratic right to question an electoral process and seek remedies available under law, but allegations against a constitutional institution should be supported by verifiable evidence.
Congress held its September 25 demonstration in Shimla over the SIR process and the functioning of the Election Commission and demanded the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Dr Bindal said, “Congress must explain its position consistently. When it wins an election, it does not question the Election Commission in the same manner, but following electoral setbacks it attacks the institution. If it has evidence of irregularities, it should place those facts before the appropriate constitutional and legal forums.”
He said electoral outcomes are ultimately determined by voters and that the result of any future election in Himachal Pradesh would similarly be decided by the electorate. Instead of assigning responsibility in advance for future results, he said, the Congress should respond to questions about its governance record.
“After nearly four years, accountability lies with the present government”
Responding to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s criticism of the previous BJP government, Dr Bindal said the Congress government was approaching four years in office and could no longer attribute every problem to its predecessor.
“Nearly four years have passed. The government must now tell the people what it has delivered in Sirmaur. How many projects were sanctioned, how much money was spent and how many projects have actually been completed?” he asked.
Dr Bindal raised issues concerning healthcare facilities, drinking-water supply, road conditions, vacancies in educational and medical institutions and the development of Dr Y.S. Parmar Government Medical College, Nahan.
He said the government should provide a time-bound account of the progress of the medical college project and clarify when the required infrastructure would be completed. The Himachal Pradesh government’s 2026-27 Budget proposed expenditure of Rs 500 crore for the construction of Nahan Medical College.
Dr Bindal also raised concerns about access to treatment and pending liabilities under government healthcare schemes, saying that patients should not suffer because of administrative or payment-related issues.
Government must disclose Sirmaur’s benefits and water rights under Kishau project
On the Kishau Multipurpose Project, Dr Bindal demanded complete transparency regarding Himachal Pradesh’s financial obligations, water rights, power entitlement and the irrigation benefits expected for farmers in Sirmaur.
An interstate agreement concerning the Kishau project was signed on September 15 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil.
“The government should tell the people exactly how much irrigation water farmers of Sirmaur will receive, what Himachal Pradesh’s water entitlement will be, what share of power the state will receive and on what calculations the projected financial returns are based,” Dr Bindal said.
He referred to the irrigation benefits associated with the Giri-Bata system in the Paonta Doon region and said the long-term irrigation interests of Sirmaur’s farmers should similarly be clearly protected in the Kishau arrangement.
Bindal seeks disclosure of expenditure on cancelled CM visit
Dr Bindal also questioned expenditure incurred by the administration in preparation for the Chief Minister’s proposed Sirmaur visit, which was subsequently cancelled.
“When a Chief Minister visits a district, people naturally have expectations of development announcements and decisions. If administrative preparations were made and public money was spent before the programme was cancelled, the government should disclose how much was spent and under which heads,” he said.
Concluding, Dr Bindal said, “The people of Himachal Pradesh want accountability and results. After nearly four years in office, the Congress government must present its own report card. Whether the issue is law and order or the development of Sirmaur, the government must answer on the basis of its record.”