Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 25 (ANI): The Revenue and Horticulture Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jagat Singh Negi, on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party was observing the anniversary of the Emergency as a “Black Day” merely to divert public attention from pressing national issues and its own shortcomings.
Speaking to ANI, Negi said the BJP had become adept at misleading the public and was using the Emergency debate to conceal what he described as failures of the present government.
Commenting on the appointment of Nigam Bhandari as the Congress district president of Kinnaur, Negi said the reaction from even his political opponents reflected positively on the choice. He noted that some BJP leaders who had contested elections against him had publicly expressed satisfaction over Bhandari’s appointment.
“I have repeatedly maintained that elections should be held within the party. Party presidents and office-bearers should be chosen through a democratic electoral process rather than through nominations. In a large party, differences and issues are natural, and direct elections are the best way to resolve them,” Negi said.
Turning to the BJP’s observance of the Emergency anniversary, the minister accused the ruling party of attempting to hide its own failures behind historical events.
“They are celebrating Black Day to cover up their mistakes. They will try to create the impression that everything is functioning well in the country, while using the Emergency as a shield to avoid accountability,” he said.
Negi alleged that democratic dissent was increasingly being suppressed in the country and claimed that opposition leaders, journalists and activists were being targeted for criticising the central government.
“If anyone speaks against the government or launches a democratic protest, it is not tolerated. Cases are filed, people are arrested, and journalists and media platforms face restrictions. This is a dangerous trend for democracy,” he alleged.
Drawing a comparison between the current political climate and the Emergency imposed in 1975, Negi claimed that the country was witnessing an “undeclared Emergency.”
Referring to the arrest of opposition leaders, including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, Negi alleged that investigative agencies had been misused for political purposes.
“What happened to opposition leaders in recent years amounts to an assault on democratic values. The country is facing a situation where criticism of the government is increasingly being stifled,” he said.
The minister further alleged that inflation, fuel prices, unemployment and rising debt were major concerns facing the public, but were not receiving adequate attention.
“People are struggling with economic hardships, yet these issues are not being discussed seriously. Instead, attention is diverted towards political narratives,” he said.
Negi also criticised India’s foreign policy, alleging that the country’s interests were not being adequately protected on the international stage. He claimed that national leadership had failed to respond strongly to incidents affecting Indian citizens abroad.
The Congress leader further accused the BJP of weakening democratic institutions and creating an atmosphere of fear through frequent investigations and police cases.
“Today, FIRs and investigations have become routine. Democratic institutions are under pressure, and people feel hesitant to speak openly,” he alleged.
Responding to allegations by the BJP and Leader of Opposition that the Himachal Pradesh government was planning to hand over the historic Wildflower Hall property to private entities and sell land belonging to the state’s agriculture university, Negi strongly rejected the charges.
He countered by accusing previous BJP governments of privatising public assets in the state.
“During the BJP’s tenure, valuable public assets worth crores of rupees were transferred to private players in the name of development and investment. Large public sector assets and hydroelectric projects were effectively handed over. Our government has worked to correct many of those decisions, yet they continue to level baseless allegations against us,” he said.
Negi maintained that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh was committed to safeguarding public assets and ensuring that government property remained protected in the public interest.
He said the opposition was raising such issues primarily for political reasons and reiterated that the state government would continue to work for the welfare of the people while protecting the interests of Himachal Pradesh. (ANI)
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