Chander Kumar Hits Back at Neeraj Bharti, Calls for Discipline and Responsible Dialogue
Agriculture Minister Prof. Chander Kumar on Saturday strongly responded to recent remarks made by former MLA Neeraj Bharti, making it clear that the statements do not reflect the official position of the Congress Party. While affirming that the party respects freedom of expression, he said such comments were neither appropriate nor justified.
The minister stressed that the Congress functions on the principles of discipline and collective responsibility. According to him, if Bharti had any concerns about the party’s working, they should have been raised internally through proper organisational channels rather than being aired publicly.
“Having held key positions, including that of a public representative and Vice-President of the state unit, he was expected to show greater responsibility and restraint,” Prof. Kumar said.
He also expressed concern that public criticism and accusations—especially on social media—can harm not only the party’s image but also the credibility of the individual making them. “This kind of approach is neither constructive nor helpful,” he added.
Shifting focus to governance, Prof. Kumar highlighted that both the party and the state government remain committed to their core values and are focused on delivering results on the ground. He pointed out that strengthening the rural economy and improving farmers’ livelihoods continue to be top priorities.
Among the key initiatives, he mentioned the plan to establish a Kisan Aayog, aimed at directly addressing farmers’ issues and ensuring long-term benefits for the agricultural community.
The minister also underlined several welfare schemes introduced by the government, including the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana, and the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-up Yojana. These initiatives, he said, are designed to support different sections of society and improve overall quality of life.
In the education sector, Prof. Kumar noted that English-medium instruction has been introduced from Class 1 in all government schools. Additionally, Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools are being set up across assembly constituencies in phases, and 156 CBSE-affiliated schools have been opened to raise academic standards.
Healthcare, too, has seen major upgrades. The minister highlighted the introduction of advanced medical technologies in the state for the first time, including robotic surgery, PET scans, 3-Tesla MRI, and modern CT scan facilities. These, he said, are helping people access high-quality treatment within Himachal Pradesh itself, reducing the need to travel outside the state.
He also spoke about the ‘Apna Parivar–Sukhi Parivar’ scheme, under which nearly one lakh extremely poor families are expected to receive up to 300 units of free electricity every month, providing much-needed relief.
Concluding his remarks, Prof. Chander Kumar said that the government’s welfare-driven approach and development initiatives are starting to show visible results across the state. He added that people’s continued trust reflects confidence in the government’s vision and leadership.
