Should We Have Enemies: Himachal Congress To BJP’s “Mitron Ki Sarkar” Jab

Chandigarh: 

The BJP’s allegation that the Congress government of Himachal Pradesh is “Mitron ki Sarkaar (A government of cohorts)” has drawn a sharp rejoinder from one of the people targetted. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s principal media advisor Naresh Chauhan has questioned what is wrong in helping friends who stand by you in times of crisis.

“The BJP is repeatedly talking about ‘Mitron ki Sarkar’. Should enemies be given place in the government?” he has told journalists in Hamirpur.

The BJP jibe is directed at Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who has given cabinet-rank posts to several allies who are not even MLAs

Besides Mr Chauhan, the list includes Gokul Butail, Principal Adviser to the Chief Minster for IT and Innovation, Political Adviser Sunil Kumar Bittu, and Vice-Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Department Development Kehar Singh Khasi.

Party insiders say Mr Chauhan is an old associate of Mr Sukhu, Gokul Butel has been a long-time Congressman and is considered close to Rahul Gandhi, while Mr Khasi is considered close to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Four MLAs have also been given cabinet rank by Mr Sukhu — Nagrota MLA RS Bali, the chairman of HPTDC, Rampur MLA Nand Lal, Chairman of the 7th State Finance Commission, Fatehpur MLA Bhawani Singh Pathania, Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Commission and Chief Whip Shahpur MLA Kewal Singh Pathania.