Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar on 1st November 2025 issued a press statement advising Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur to refrain from making baseless and misleading statements against the State Government. He said that CM Sukhu has been making relentless efforts to provide relief and rehabilitation support to the disaster-affected people of Himachal Pradesh.
The Minister informed that the recent monsoon calamity caused an estimated loss of ₹18,000 crore to the State. Despite limited resources, the Chief Minister has been personally coordinating with Union Ministers to seek assistance for the affected families. However, he said that the Centre’s inadequate response is largely due to the constant obstruction by BJP leaders from the State.
Chander Kumar added that during the 2023 natural disaster, the State Government had released a special relief package of ₹4,500 crore from its own resources, as the Central Government did not release any funds. The current government has also enhanced compensation rates for affected farmers, horticulturists, shopkeepers, and displaced families — both in rural and urban areas.
He criticized the Opposition for ignoring these facts and making statements that he termed “ridiculous and politically motivated.” He said that instead of raising genuine public issues, the Leader of Opposition was engaging in baseless rhetoric aimed at misleading the people.
Highlighting the progress under the present government, the Minister said that Himachal Pradesh now ranks 5th in quality education, compared to 21st position during the BJP regime. He pointed out that the previous government opened educational institutions without proper staffing, whereas the present government is ensuring teacher availability and has initiated conversion of 100 schools into CBSE-based institutions as part of education reforms.
In the agriculture sector, the Minister said that unlike the previous regime which neglected farmers’ welfare, the Sukhu government has focused on strengthening the rural economy. Over the last two years, the support price of cow milk has been increased to ₹51 per litre and buffalo milk to ₹61 per litre. The government is also procuring naturally grown wheat and barley at ₹60/kg, maize at ₹40/kg, and raw turmeric at ₹90/kg, ensuring fair returns to farmers.
Concluding his statement, Chander Kumar urged the Leader of Opposition to rise above political allegations and acknowledge the positive changes and developmental initiatives undertaken by the State Government under CM Sukhu’s leadership.
