Himachal Pradesh: CM Sukhu denies allegations of spying on Leader of Opposition

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 30 (ANI): Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has dismissed allegations that his government is spying on the Leader of the Opposition using drones.

Speaking to reporters, Sukhu called these accusations “baseless” and assured that the government would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. He further said that a letter would be sent to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to inquire if any surveillance on the Leader of Opposition is being conducted by them.

Sukhu criticized the Leader of Opposition, Jairam Thakur, accusing him of “walking out of the House without listening to anything” and using such tactics to stay in the news. He also claimed that not all MLAs aligned with Thakur are participating in the walkout.

Regarding the accusations of drone spying, Sukhu stated, “The Himachal government is not spying on anyone. This is a serious matter, and we will ensure it is thoroughly investigated.” H

He also accused the opposition of selling Himachal Pradesh’s interests during their time in power, specifically citing a reduction in royalty rates on four power projects which, according to him, led to a significant economic decline in the state. Sukhu warned that if the companies involved in these power projects do not comply with government conditions, they could face state control.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur has countered these claims, stating that the opposition is not being allowed sufficient time to speak in the House. “We have been wearing black badges inside the House in protest. The BJP MLAs are not given the opportunity to discuss the issues they raise,” Thakur said. He further accused the government of engaging in surveillance against him and the opposition, using drones as a tool for this alleged spying.

Thakur also criticized the deferral of salaries for the Chief Minister and ministers, calling it a “political move”. He said that instead of symbolic gestures, the government should focus on substantial financial reforms. The ongoing dispute between the ruling government and the opposition continues to escalate, with both sides accusing each other of manipulating the situation to grab headlines.