Congress General Secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Monday lashed out at the Centre for not providing financial assistance to Himachal Pradesh, which suffered extensive losses during the recent rains. Priyanka accused the Centre of indulging in politics at a time when the state was reeling from devastation, alleging that financial aid was being withheld because Himachal was an Opposition-ruled state. She made the comments while addressing a political rally after the unveiling of the statue of six-time former chief minister Virbhadra Singh at Daulat Singh Park on the Ridge in Shimla. “Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has repeatedly approached the Central government seeking financial assistance for the state, but not a single penny has been released so far. What the Central government knows best is how to play politics even during times of crisis. When countless families were devastated and thousands of houses destroyed, Himachal did not get the help it deserved simply because an Opposition party governs it,” said Priyanka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a Rs 1,500-crore relief package for Himachal Pradesh on September 9. The statue was unveiled by senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, in the presence of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, Virbhadra Singh’s son and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, and Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh. Priyanka said senior Congress leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Virbhadra Singh, worked selflessly for the nation and society. “Today, there are only a few politicians who genuinely care for public welfare instead of focusing on social media, fake PR, and event management. If Rahul Gandhi speaks fearlessly for the welfare of the nation today, he is walking the same path on which this country and this Congress party were built.” Expressing her affection for Himachal, Priyanka added, “I love this state—its valleys, flora, and fauna. This natural beauty is our heritage, and we must protect it at all costs.” Before Priyanka’s address, Sukhu also hit out at the BJP. “There has not been a single BJP Chief Minister who has contributed to Himachal’s development the way Congress leaders such as Dr Y S Parmar and Virbhadra Singh did.” Sukhu also recalled former Union home minister P Chidambaram saying that major national-level educational institutions came to Himachal due to the efforts of Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh. Chidambaram twice visited the state to inaugurate institutions such as IIT Mandi and the Central University of Himachal Pradesh in Dharamshala. Deputy CM Agnihotri, Vikramaditya Singh, and Pratibha Singh also addressed the rally.
