Jai Ram Thakur Slams Govt’s Mandi Event, Calls It Wasteful and Insensitive

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur strongly criticised the state government’s three‑year celebration event in Mandi, saying the programme was used more to vent frustration than to highlight achievements. Speaking to the media, he said it was unfortunate that such a grand show was organised in a district that had suffered some of the worst disaster-related losses, calling it a sign of the government’s “insensitivity” toward affected families.

Thakur alleged that nearly ₹10 crore of public money was spent not on relief or development, but on “targeting the Centre and the BJP.” Instead of offering comfort to disaster-hit families, he said, the government “sprinkled salt on their wounds.” He also claimed that people at the event witnessed Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri exchanging angry looks, which left citizens and officials surprised.

According to Thakur, what was advertised as a forward-looking programme for the next two years turned into a stage for attacking the Central government. “I had said earlier that this government has no vision. Today it became clear that their vision is completely blurred,” he remarked.

He questioned the heavy expenditure on the event, arguing that the funds should have been directed toward families still struggling after recent disasters. Thakur also pointed to the Deputy CM’s public reprimand of the Chief Minister as evidence of internal tensions within the ruling party.

Highlighting the absence of senior Congress leaders such as former PCC chief Pratibha Singh and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Thakur said their no‑show reflected growing differences between the Sukhu camp and supporters of the late former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.