State BJP President Dr Rajeev Bindal on Friday lashed out at the government over the introduction of state lottery in Himachal Pradesh, saying that instead of jobs for youth, the state government is now introducing lotteries to change their fate.
Photo:SNS
State BJP President Dr Rajeev Bindal on Friday lashed out at the government over the introduction of state lottery in Himachal Pradesh, saying that instead of jobs for youth, the state government is now introducing lotteries to change their fate.
The Congress government came to power with the promise of providing one lakh permanent jobs, but it now appears to be pushing the state’s unemployed youth towards lotteries instead.
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It appears that the unemployed will no longer prepare for examinations in Himachal Pradesh, but will instead be forced to stake their hopes on lottery tickets,” he said, adding that such decisions will be rolled back when the BJP returns to power.
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He asserted that institutions and schools closed by the Congress government will be reopened, as the BJP had established them in the public interest.
He recalled that the lottery system was abolished when Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal became the Chief Minister in 1998. “In 2004, Congress restarted it. However, the then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh banned it again in 2007,” he said.
Dr Bindal further said that Himachal Pradesh has now turned into a hub for liquor, drugs, cannabis, and lotteries. Under the Congress government, liquor shops have been opened on Public Works Department land, but if a poor person tries to sell maize there, he is fined immediately.
He added that a repressive government is being run in Himachal Pradesh, whose main job is to file FIRs and chargesheets. Any government employee who raises his voice against the government faces FIRs, transfers, or inquiries.
Those who protest against the government on the streets are booked under cases, and false charges are filed against political rivals, he alleged, adding that the FIR lodged in Sirmaur is the biggest example.
In Thunag, even families who lost their homes and land to natural disasters have been falsely booked under sedition charges on the grounds of alleged disrespect to the national flag. Seventy-two people have been implicated, and one person has even been jailed, he claimed.
“Will these people focus on rebuilding their homes or fighting court cases from jail?” he questioned.
Dr Bindal announced that the BJP will hold a massive protest rally in Mandi on August 6 against what he called a repressive, anti-people government.
Questioning the state government, he said the Congress must explain how much money was actually spent from the state exchequer during the disaster period.
“According to information available with the BJP, from 2022 to 2025, the present Congress government has spent only Rs 150 crore from its own budget over three years,” he alleged, questioning what happened to the promised aid.
He claimed that the central government has provided Rs 7,513 crore, in addition to further allocations under MGNREGA and the One Lakh Housing Scheme. He further added that, on the request of BJP leaders, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is also prepared to extend assistance to Himachal during disaster situations.
Discussions on this have already been held with Union Minister Mohanlal Khattar, he said.
He demanded a rollback of the lottery scheme, reopening of schools and institutions, transparency in the distribution of relief, and cancellation of all FIRs lodged against disaster-affected people.
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