Himachal: CM in Bihar, Oppn questions ‘absence’, demands to defer monsoon session

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly Thursday passed a resolution urging the Centre to declare the widespread devastation caused by monsoon rains in the state as a national disaster amid demands by the opposition BJP to defer of the ongoing Monsoon session. The BJP also slammed Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for going to Bihar to attend […]

People gather after a vehicle gets stuck under debris as heavy rain triggered landslides and flash floods, in Shimla. (PTI)

Written by: Saurabh Prashar

4 min readShimlaAug 29, 2025 09:21 AM IST First published on: Aug 29, 2025 at 09:20 AM IST

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly Thursday passed a resolution urging the Centre to declare the widespread devastation caused by monsoon rains in the state as a national disaster amid demands by the opposition BJP to defer of the ongoing Monsoon session.

The BJP also slammed Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for going to Bihar to attend a political rally during a disaster in the state.

The BJP, which initially extended support to the resolution, started raising slogans when Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi was reading his statement. The pandemonium took place when the House assembled after lunch. Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur was not in the House when the opposition MLAs started raising slogans against Negi. They rushed into the well when Thakur entered the House.

Opposition members alleged that the government was apathetic towards the situation and said the CM should have been in Himachal instead of attending political rallies in poll-bound Bihar. As tension brewed, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

BJP MLA Hansraj from Churah said that the situation was grim in his constituency, Pangi and other areas of Chamba district. Saach Pass in the district is wrapped in a one-and-a-half-foot-thick blanket of snow, roads are closed, and thousands of people are stranded, he said, asserting that the CM should have been in the state during this time.

BJP’s Bharmour MLA Janak Raj said that the session should be deferred and requested that the government make arrangements to enable the MLAs to reach the disaster-hit areas of Chamba.

LoP Thakur also criticised the government over CM’s absence from the state. He said that massive damage has been caused to the roads in Mandi, Kullu and Chamba districts, where communication links have been snapped and thousands of people are stranded.

He appealed to the Speaker to use his powers to speed up the relief and restoration operations.

Speaker Pathania, who represents the Bhatiyyat assembly constituency in Chamba district, also expressed his concern and said that the session can be deferred if both the ruling and Opposition reach a consensus.

Revenue Minister Negi accused the BJP of trying to look for an opportunity to hit out at the government even during a disaster. “The BJP is trying to create an impression that people are starving only to mislead people for their narrow political ends. I would like to inform the House that there is no bhukhmari (hunger) during the current disaster in the state as portrayed by the BJP.”

He added that at least 38 people were evacuated from Chamba and areas, where houses were washed away. “The opposition is being anti-Himachal. Even during the 2023 monsoon, the opposition didn’t support the resolution adopted by this house, seeking special financial assistance to the state,” he said.

Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri also urged the opposition to not politicise relief efforts. “The entire government is working overtime to ensure relief and restoration,” he said, detailing rescue efforts including the reopening of the Pathankot-Chamba road and evacuation of over 3,000 people from the Manimahesh route.

Meanwhile, amid protests, a resolution, moved under Rule 102 by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, was passed by voice vote.

Chauhan said there was no doubt that the entire state had suffered massive devastation. “However, I do not feel the Assembly can be deferred as many important matters have to be taken up, besides some Bills have to be passed. Under Rule 102, I move a resolution urging the Centre to declare the rain disaster in Himachal as a national disaster in which the entire House can participate, he said.

Pathania added that the resolution moved by Chauhan was important, urgent and in the interest of the state so it would be debated upon by both treasury and opposition members. “I am admitting the resolution for debate after relaxing the mandatory three days’ notice period for debate under Rule 102,” he said.