‘Fight not BJP vs Congress, but BJP vs people… no threat to Congress govt’: Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu

Excerpts:

In the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress drew a blank in Himachal. How different is the situation this time?

We are confident that the Congress will win all the four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal. This time, there is no Modi wave, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jumlas will not influence the people. Modi ji only visits Himachal Pradesh during elections. Last year, during the biggest disaster in our state’s history, he did not visit even once, nor did the Central government provide any special financial assistance. In contrast, the Congress government allocated a relief package of Rs 4,500 crore from its limited resources and rehabilitated 22,000 disaster-affected families.

The Modi government has also promised to increase the import duty on apples three times but actually reduced it by 50%, leading to increased imports of foreign apples and significant losses for local apple orchardists. The people of Himachal are frustrated with the Central government’s neglect. The Congress has fielded strong candidates in all the four seats, who are receiving overwhelming support from the public.

The bypolls to six Assembly seats will have a bearing on your government’s fate. How confident are you of retaining these seats?

The people of Himachal are fully aware of the reasons behind the six by-elections. Six Congress MLAs were bought by the BJP for Rs 15 crore each, betraying the trust and votes of their constituents. The public is outraged with the BJP for introducing horse-trading politics in our state, and is ready to teach them a lesson. Even long-time BJP workers are dissatisfied with their party’s current approach. Therefore, this election in Himachal is not a contest between Congress and BJP but between the people and the BJP.

Given that the Lok Sabha elections and bypolls are taking place simultaneously, both local and national issues are a talking point. Do you see the elections as a referendum on your government’s performance over the last one-and-a-half years?

Absolutely. The Congress government has delivered on its five guarantees within just 14 months. We reinstated the old pension scheme (OPS) for 1.36 lakh government employees, whereas (former CM) Jairam Thakur had challenged employees to contest elections for their pension rights.

We implemented the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi pension scheme before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect by allocating a budget of Rs 800 crore despite the BJP’s attempts to create obstacles. The pensions of 2.36 lakh women, previously Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,100, have been increased to Rs 1,500.

We have also introduced English medium education from Class I in government schools. Himachal is the first state in the country to provide a minimum support price for milk, purchasing cow milk at Rs 45 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs 55 per litre. A start-up fund of Rs 680 crore has been established for unemployed youth. Beyond our guarantees, we are recruiting for 22,000 government posts, covering education expenses for widows’ children up to the age of 27, providing financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh for house construction, and bearing medical expenses for senior citizens over the age of 70.

We have adopted 4,000 orphans as children of the State and increased the MNREGA wage from Rs 60 to Rs 300. Additionally, we have raised the honorarium for various categories, including anganwadi workers, panchayat chowkidars, mid-day meal workers, and sewing teachers.

We have also undertaken numerous initiatives for farmers, orchardists, and labourers, and we are taking these achievements to the public.

Would the divisions and discord within the state Congress hurt the party?

The state Congress is united and we are fully committed to challenging the BJP’s money power. Responsibilities have been assigned to all ministers, MLAs, and office-bearers. They are diligently fulfilling their duties. As I have stated before, some MLAs may have compromised their integrity, but those who chose to sell out have already done so. Now, our government stands united and strong.

One of the main themes of the Congress’s campaign in the 2022 Assembly election was reinstatement of the OPS. But, it is not mentioned in the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. Is there a rethink on this issue?

I think your information is not correct. The Congress stands by its promises and delivers on them. In the very first Cabinet meeting after forming the government in Himachal, we restored the OPS for 1.36 lakh government employees… The Congress does what it says, and our actions reflect our commitment to the people.

As a Congress Chief Minister, do you think the party should get the Prime Minister’s post if the INDIA bloc is voted to power? Do you wish to see Rahul Gandhi as PM?

The decision on who will be the PM of the INDIA bloc will be taken collectively by the constituents. However, I personally hope that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi becomes the PM. The Gandhi family has sacrificed two members for the nation. Rahul Gandhi ji undertook a 4,500-km-long Bharat Jodo Yatra to promote unity and integrity of the country and is a strong opponent of the anti-people policies of the Modi government.

If the BJP manages to win the Assembly by-elections and return to power at the Centre… what do you think will happen?

I believe this is a hypothetical question and will never happen. There is no threat to the Congress government and, without the numbers in its favour, the BJP cannot come to power. BJP leaders are talking about Operation Lotus and government formation only to keep their cadre united. The voters of Himachal Pradesh have given the mandate to the Congress to govern for five years, and the Congress government will complete its term.

How many seats do you think Congress will win in Himachal this election?

The Congress will win all the four Lok Sabha and the six Assembly seats. After the election results, the Congress government will emerge stronger.