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Sunday - May 25, 2025
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REGD.-HP-09-0015257
08:29 PM
Sunday - May 25, 2025
Weather: 14°C
REGD.-HP-09-0015257
Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s re...
Himachal Erupts: Farmers and Apple Growers Protest...
Shimla, April 25: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder...
Shimla | May 25, 2025
The hill state is on the boil. The sensitive mysterious death case of senior HP Power Corporation chief engineer Vimal Negi has spun into a full-blown political and administrative crisis, exposing deep fissures in the state police hierarchy — and pushing the government onto the back foot.
Now, with the Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu over the "collapse of law and order and institutional credibility," all eyes are on Monday’s meeting between the CM and the sulking Governor.
Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh Police morale lies in tatters.
Officers across the ranks are openly whispering — this should never have gone public.
“It was a matter for internal resolution — not a press war,” remarked a senior officer, reacting to SP Shimla Sanjeev Gandhi’s explosive press conference where he named and shamed top officials, even dragging in the Governor's office.
The internal sentiment within the force is that the rift between SP Gandhi and DGP Atul Verma should’ve been dealt with behind closed doors, not splashed across headlines.
DGP Atul Verma, stung by the public spectacle, has formally sought the suspension of SP Sanjeev Gandhi, citing indiscipline, insubordination, and breach of service conduct rules.
There are others who mull that the government should take action against the erring officers under conduct rules to save police force from the fall in grace in public eye.
But even as Verma inches toward retirement on May 31, murmurs persist that the government may delay action — only to move decisively once he steps down.
Things have now come to such a head that the DGP office had to issue a public clarification today (May 25). In a statement titled “Clarification Regarding Inappropriate Reference to Constitutional Authority”, the DGP’s office said:
“It has come to notice that a junior officer of Himachal Pradesh Police has made an inappropriate reference to a constitutional authority.
The Office of the Director General of Police deeply regrets this unauthorised and improper mention.
Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted. The views expressed are not reflective of the Himachal Pradesh Police as a whole.
All officials, across ranks, remain steadfast in their devotion to duty and uphold the dignity of constitutional institutions, stated the notification.
This rare and uncomfortable order has only reinforced the view that the police force is in disarray.
Many recall the Gudia murder case, where the CBI had charge-sheeted an Inspector General of Police and six officers last year, leading to a massive dent in the department's credibility.
"Is the Vimal Negi case headed the same way?" — that’s the uncomfortable question now echoing across Himachal.
The High Court has already handed the probe to the CBI, observing that the inter-departmental feud had compromised the investigation.
But in a stunning twist, SP Shimla reportedly tried to block the CBI team from accessing key documents, citing a pending appeal — even as the Advocate General clarified that no such appeal had been filed.
The drama doesn’t stop there.
Whispers in the corridors of power are that there was a covert, high-stakes meeting at Himachal Sadan in Delhi on May 22 — attended by the CM, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, AG Anup Rattan, and others.
In this meeting, they reveal, plans were allegedly floated to chargesheet both Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Onkar Sharma and DGP Verma.
But politics took over. With Onkar Sharma seen as a local heavyweight, the needle swung toward the DGP.
The deliberation: chargesheet before retirement or after?
A sub-inspector stationed at Himachal Sadan reportedly caught wind of this and began claiming that CM had approved action against the DGP.
Back in Shimla, SP Gandhi was reportedly swaggering, claiming he had enough “ammo” to slap multiple FIRs on the DGP.
But then came the unexpected: on Friday, the High Court's judgment in the Vimal Negi case went against the government.
Plans changed. A damage-control strategy was quickly drawn. An illusionary transfer proposal for SP Shimla was floated — not to act, but to cool tempers until DGP retired.
But Gandhi wasn’t buying the bait.
What followed was a fiery press conference by SP Gandhi, where he named not just the DGP and CS and Sudhir Sharma, but also referred to the Governor as a “constitutional authority” — setting off alarm bells in Raj Bhavan.
Already miffed over an unrelated land dispute (RK Mission–Brahmo Samaj case), the Governor has now refused to meet any officer until Monday, leaving the administrative setup paralyzed.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur minced no words: “If the CM cannot even handle his police department, he has no moral right to remain in office. He has failed the state.”
As governance takes a back seat and police morale sinks to a new low, Himachal Pradesh is staring at a deep crisis of credibility.
And the question remains — who will finally step in to restore order in this hill state in chaos?
HP CM has to answer so many questions to restore order taking decisive action as SP has claimed to have filed fresh LPA in the High Court.
Everybody has questioned whether SP has such an authority to do so?
CM has to clear clatter. Sooner the better.
#HimachalCrisis #PoliceMoraleDown #DGPvsSP #CBIProbe #ShimlaDrama
Jai Ram Thakur Demands CM Sukhvinder Sukhu’s Resignation, Cites Constitutional Failure and Corruption in HPCL Solar Project
Shimla, May 25:
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur today launched a scathing attack on the Sukhu-led Congress government, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu over what he termed as a “complete constitutional breakdown” and “rampant corruption” in the state administration.
Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Thakur hailed the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s recent decision to hand over the probe into the mysterious death of HPCL Chief Engineer Vibhal Negi to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), terming it a serious indictment of the state government’s credibility.
“The CM has no moral authority to continue. Neither the SP Shimla, nor the DGP or even the Chief Secretary seem to follow his line. This shows a complete collapse of governance. The law and order situation is in shambles,” Thakur alleged.
Referring to the controversial Pekhawala Solar Project under Himachal Power Corporation Ltd (HPCL), the former Chief Minister accused top officials — including those in the Chief Minister’s Office — of colluding with private contractors, leading to an unjustified escalation of project costs by over Rs 10 crore.
> “This project has exposed the deep-rooted corruption within the system. The High Court's intervention proves that the people at the top are not interested in justice,” he added.
Thakur questioned the role of Shimla SP in the case, stating that the SP had no locus standi to approach the High Court on his own in such sensitive matters.
> “It was the responsibility of the state government to seek a CBI probe, not the police.
What’s more shocking is that the CBI officials had to face resistance while seeking documents from the SP office. This proves there’s something to hide,” he claimed.
Calling the state’s flagship “Vikas ka Naya Sankalp – Vyavastha Parivartan” a complete failure, Thakur said that the slogan has instead brought in a state of “lawlessness and administrative confusion.”
> “The people of Himachal had trusted this government, but today, all they see is mismanagement, interference in investigations, and zero accountability. The Chief Minister must resign,” he concluded.
The CBI is currently in Shimla, actively collecting case-related documents in the Vibhal Negi case, as per court directives.
However, the alleged non-cooperation by district police officials has raised eyebrows, triggering a political storm in the state.
The state government is yet to respond officially to the allegations made by the Leader of Opposition.
Shimla, May 25 — A hailstorm pounded the prime apple belts of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, leaving thousands of fruit-laden trees and crops damaged across Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba and Kangra.
At the same time, a sudden cloudburst in Kullu’s Jagatkhana triggered flash floods, washing away over 15 vehicles and blocking roads with debris.
Apple Growers in Shock
From Kotgarh to Seraj valley, and from Theog to Kalpa, apple orchards bore the brunt of nature’s fury.
The hail struck at a critical stage—just as apples were forming—shredding leaves and bruising fruits.
Cherry and vegetable growers also suffered losses. In Chamba’s high-altitude Pangi area, snow and rain further worsened the situation.
Flash Floods in Jagatkhana, Cars Swept Into Sutlej
In Kullu’s Nirmand block, Jagatkhana village saw a sudden downpour around 6 PM.
The resulting cloudburst caused a flash flood that swept away parked cars and buried roads in debris.
Three road stretches were blocked by landslides. Rescue teams restored traffic late at night. One death was reported in Chamba’s Cheli village due to a related cloudburst.
Yellow Alert Issued
IMD has sounded a yellow warning for May 27–28, with predictions of hailstorms, gusty winds (up to 50 kmph), and isolated heavy rain on May 30–31.
Farmer Advisory:
Inspect orchards for pest and fungal risks after hail.
Report damage to horticulture officers quickly for compensation.
Tourist Advisory:
Avoid travel to remote and flood-prone areas.
Follow local weather and traffic updates before planning your route.
#HimachalHailstorm #AppleCropDamage #KulluCloudburst #TravelAdvisory
Himachal CM Urges PM Modi for Financial Aid, Raises Apple Import Issue and Hydropower Concerns
New Delhi, May 24:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital, seeking generous financial assistance for the state and early release of pending funds.
The meeting comes at a time when the hill state continues to grapple with economic recovery after last year's natural calamities and aims to strengthen its journey towards self-reliance by 2032.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister briefed the Prime Minister about the state’s ambitious vision of achieving self-reliance within the next decade.
“The state government is committed to launching new development schemes and strengthening ongoing ones to achieve this goal,” he said.
Key sectors such as tourism, green energy, and power were also on the agenda.
The Chief Minister advocated for safeguarding Himachal’s interests in hydropower projects and requested the Centre to fix a timeline for returning several projects to the state’s control.
Among the other pressing issues raised was the expansion of the Kangra airport.
The Chief Minister stressed the need for improved air connectivity to boost tourism and regional development in the lower hill regions.
In a significant move, he also flagged the concerns of apple growers, urging the Prime Minister to protect their interests in the wake of increasing apple imports from countries like Türkiye.
"Cheap imports are hurting our farmers. The Prime Minister assured us that the matter would be reviewed," he told reporters after the meeting.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister also attended the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by the Prime Minister.
During the meeting, he highlighted the unique developmental challenges faced by Himalayan states and reiterated the need for differentiated funding support and tailored policy measures for mountainous regions like Himachal Pradesh.
He sought more central support in the areas of climate resilience, disaster recovery, infrastructure, and sustainable tourism.
Sources said the PM responded positively and assured that the apple import issue would be reviewed on priority and that the other concerns raised would be considered sympathetically.
The visit reflects Himachal's ongoing efforts to secure central backing for key projects and policy support to help the state chart a resilient and self-sustaining future.
Breaking: Southwest Monsoon Hits Kerala Early; Shimla Sees a Mixed bag of Relief from Heatwaves and Havoc with Crop Damage...
Shimla/Delhi, 24 May 2025:
The much-awaited Southwest Monsoon has officially made landfall in Kerala today, May 24—a full week ahead of its usual June 1 onset, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed. This early arrival could set the tone for a dynamic monsoon season across the country.
As the monsoon pushed into Kerala, Mahe, Lakshadweep, parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and the Bay of Bengal region, sharp showers and sleet battered the high-altitude apple belt of Shimla, damaging apple, pear, and pea crops.
Locals and growers reported losses, hinting that the hills are already feeling the tremors of the changing weather cycle mainly in the Shimla apple belt.
The Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) now stretches through parts of the Arabian Sea, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bay of Bengal, Mizoram, and all the way up to 27°N/98°E in the Northeast—marking an impressive advance for this time of year.
What’s Next?
The IMD says conditions are ripe for the monsoon to move further into central Arabian Sea, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, more areas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as well as Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and the rest of the Northeast over the next 2–3 days.
With the rains making an early dash and high-altitude crops already taking a hit, India's monsoon calendar is off to a dramatic and telling start.
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