Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state government’s flagship campaign ‘Chitta-free Himachal’ had transformed into a people’s movement, with widespread public participation strengthening the fight against drug abuse in the state.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the two-day Indora Festival at Indora in Kangra district, the Chief Minister said properties worth around Rs 50 crore, amassed through drug trafficking, had already been seized. He asserted that the government was committed to confiscating the remaining illicit assets of the drug mafia within the next six months.

Calling upon citizens and gram panchayats to actively support the campaign, Sukhu said community participation was vital to protect the younger generation from falling prey to drugs. He urged people to remain vigilant in their areas and share credible information with law-enforcement agencies through the emergency helpline 112. Informants, he assured, would be provided complete confidentiality along with rewards ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 10 lakh, depending on the input.

In his address, the Chief Minister also criticised the Union government’s decision to scrap the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replace it with a new legislation.

Describing MGNREGA as the world’s largest employment-generation programme, he said it had acted as a lifeline for rural households, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sukhu reiterated that the Himachal Pradesh government would firmly oppose any move to dismantle the scheme, calling it an injustice to the poor and needy.

Lauding the Indora Festival, organised on the theme ‘Chitta-free Himachal’, the Chief Minister announced that it would soon be accorded district-level status.

Highlighting development initiatives, he said Himachal Pradesh had become the first state in the country to provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) for naturally grown crops such as wheat, maize, turmeric and barley, in addition to milk. Strengthening the rural economy, he added, remained a key priority, with a target of ensuring a minimum monthly family income of Rs 20,000 for farmers.

Sukhu also said the state had made significant progress in the health sector, with Rs 3,000 crore allocated to strengthen healthcare infrastructure. Before the public meeting, he interacted with inmates of the Angel Orphanage Home in the Jawali Assembly constituency.

The programme concluded with cultural performances by Punjabi singer Lakhwinder Badali, the HP Police Band and local artists, in the presence of ministers, legislators and other dignitaries.

An incident of serious concern has come to light near 14 Mile on the Kullu–Manali national highway, where unidentified miscreants have allegedly damaged National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) crash barriers and created a temporary access road leading towards the Beas.

The incident, reported late on Tuesday night, has triggered panic among local residents and raised fresh questions over unchecked activities of the illegal mining mafia in the region.

According to locals, several sections of the crash barriers installed along the highway were uprooted and broken, allegedly to facilitate easy movement of vehicles towards the riverbed.

The distance between the damaged spot and the Beas river is merely 20 to 30 metres, strengthening suspicions that the act was aimed at enabling illegal mining operations.

Residents have alleged that despite repeated instances of illegal mining in the area in the past, the latest incident reflects a blatant attack on the highway safety infrastructure.

The damaged crash barriers were meant to prevent high-speed vehicles from skidding off the road, especially at vulnerable stretches close to the river.

Their destruction has significantly increased the risk of accidents, posing a grave threat to commuters. Villagers fear that if immediate action is not taken, the situation could result in major loss of the life and property.

The incident has sparked widespread resentment, with locals demanding a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible.

They have also urged the administration to immediately restore the damaged barriers and intensify police patrolling in the area to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Significantly, the incident comes in the backdrop of repeated directions from the Himachal Pradesh High Court regarding illegal mining and unauthorised roads leading towards rivers.

The High Court has taken a stern view of illegal access roads carved out towards riverbeds for mining purposes and directed the authorities to identify and permanently close such stretches.

The court has also stressed on fixing accountability of officials concerned for failure to curb illegal mining and for allowing damage to public infrastructure and the environment.

Despite these judicial directives, the latest incident highlights gaps in enforcement on the ground.

Locals argue that unless the High Court orders are implemented in letter and spirit, such unlawful activities will continue unabated. The police have stated that an investigation is underway and efforts are being made to identify the culprits.

The incident has once again underscored the urgent need for coordinated action by the district administration, the police, the NHAI and the mining authorities to safeguard public safety, protect river ecosystems and uphold the rule of law along the strategically important Kullu–Manali highway.

Following spotting of multiple aeroplane-shaped balloons having PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) or Pakistani flag printed on them in different districts of the state in the past few weeks, the Himachal Pradesh Police have reached out to their counterparts in Punjab and Rajasthan to determine the origin of these balloons.

Police have also contacted the officials of the Indian Air Force for the same.

“So far, no suspicious devices such as gadgets, surveillance devices, trackers or materials have been found inside these balloons. We have contacted our counterparts in states sharing a border with Pakistan where similar balloons were found to get their insights,” police said.

While no FIR has been registered in this case, the police are investigating the matter, enquiring local vendors about the origin of these balloons.

Recently, residents of Chalet village under Daulatpur police post were alarmed after an aeroplane-shaped balloon with PIA written on it was found on the roof of a house of a villager.

He then immediately informed the Daulatpur police post. Upon receiving the information, the police team reached the spot and seized the balloon.

As a precautionary measure, police also inspected the surrounding areas to rule out the presence of any other suspicious objects.

On December 8, three similar balloons were also found in Tatehra village of Gagret sub-division. These balloons had the Pakistani flag on them and “I Love Pakistan” written on them.

Also, similar balloons were found in Hamirpur and Kangra districts in the past few months.

Himachal Vidhan Sabha has constituted the Select Committee to examine various aspects of the Bill which proposes to make amendments in Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act, 1972.

The committee will be headed by Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh will also be one of the Members of the committee.

A total of seven legislators, four from the BJP and three from the Congress, have been made Members of the committee. The BJP MLAs made Members are Sukh Ram Chaudhary (Paonta Sahib), Satpal Singh Satti (Una), Randhir Sharma (Naina Devi) and Trilok Jamwal (Bilaspur). The Congress MLAs, part of the Select Committee, are Randhir Sharma (Bilaspur), Sanjay Rattan (Jwalamukhi) and Harish Janartha (Shimla Urban).

It was on December 5, the last day of the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha at Dharamsala, that it was decided to refer the proposed Bill to the Select Committee.

Now the Vidhan Sabha Speaker has constituted the Select Committee which will examine the Bill and give its opinion. Revenue Minister Jagat Negi had introduced the Bill in the Vidhan Sabha which was taken up for discussion and passing on December 5.

Though successive regimes, headed by the Congress and the BJP, contemplated making amendments in Section 118 but considering its sacrosanct nature and a possible political fallout they did not proceed ahead. Section 118 is construed as a major hindrance in the growth of industry in Himachal.

The Sukhu-led Congress regime was keen to pass the Bill aimed at simplifying the cumbersome procedures in seeking relaxation for purchase of land by people from outside the state.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has himself cited that this was being done to enhance the ease of doing business as it would help attract big industrial investment in Himachal.

The CM informed the House that many genuine investors were unable to complete projects within the stipulated timelines due to circumstances beyond their control. To address this, the Bill proposes a mechanism allowing extension of time upon payment of a prescribed penalty.

Another purpose that the amendment would serve was to encourage business in rural areas. As per the amendment, the government also proposes exempting short-term leases of buildings for up to 10 years from the purview of Section-118 of this Act.

A war of words has broken out between the Congress and the BJP following BJP national president JP Nadda’s felicitation function in Shimla, where he claimed that the Centre had given Rs 3,789 crore as disaster relief to the state along with funds for other developmental work.

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Vinay Kumar has outrightly rejected the claim, saying that the Centre has not provided any special assistance to the state to cope with disaster.

“What Nadda said is devoid of truth and was aimed at misleading people. Nadda should clarify how much money was given and under which scheme and head,” said Kumar.

Responding to Kumar’s contention, senior BJP leader Satpal Satti said the Congress had been rattled by Nadda’s clear and factual statements and was resorting to lies and propaganda.

“To say that the Centre did not provide any help to the state as disaster relief is a complete lie. The HPCC president is trying to mislead the people through such baseless statements,” said Satti.

As for the Rs 1,500 crore relief package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few months back, Satti said the relief package was being processed. “The financial assistance is not released due to any political pressure or statements.

It will be released as per the rules,” said Satti, challenging the state government to reveal how many formal proposals, detailed project reports and utilisation certificates it had sent to the Centre.

BJP state president Rajiv Bindal said Nadda had put the state government in the dock with his fact-based speech. “His speech was an eye-opener. The Centre is helping but the state government is stalling the development works,” claimed Bindal.

The HPCC president, meanwhile, claimed that the state was pushed into the economic crisis during the “double engine” BJP government. “So the claims Nadda made in Shimla yesterday lack any substance and credence,” said Kumar.

He further alleged that Nadda had not given any credible assurance or provided any concrete help to the state despite being a Union Minister over the last three years. “And all BJP MPs do nothing but try and mislead people with fake statistics,” he alleged.

Satti hit back saying that the Congress government was levelling false allegations against the BJP and the Centre to divert people’s attention from its own failures.

“The truth is, the state is in economic crisis due to the mismanagement, administrative chaos and freebies announced by the Congress government,” said Satti.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inaugurated state-of-the-art facilities at the Directorate of Samagra Shiksha, including the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK), Education Gallery, Programme Management Studio Conference Area, new conference hall and a modern central heating system.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said these advance facilities would not only enhance administrative and academic efficiency but would also mark the beginning of a new era of digital education governance in the state. He said this initiative reflects the visionary approach of the present state government and it would place education at the core of overall development.

Sukhu said during the last three years the state government had accorded top priority to the education sector and implemented several decisive reforms, the positive outcomes of which were now clearly visible.

He highlighted that the state has made remarkable progress at the national level by improving its ranking in education quality assessment from 21st to 5th position. “This achievement is the result of the collective efforts of teachers, students and parents, coupled with the firm commitment of the government to educational excellence,” he said.

The CM said the Vidya Samiksha Kendra represents an important milestone in this transformative journey. “Himachal has emerged as one of the leading states to adopt an integrated digital platform that provides real-time data related to teaching, learning outcomes, student assessment, attendance, resource management and school administration,” he said.

Innovative initiatives such as ‘Abhyas Himachal’, geo-spatial technology-based smart attendance systems and ‘Nipun Pragati’ were ensuring scientific analysis of the learning levels of the children.

“The learning gaps are now being identified through data-driven insights rather than assumptions, making the education system more transparent, accountable and outcome-oriented.

The CM further said the ‘Shikshak Sahayak ’ digital tool has emerged as a powerful support platform for teachers, enabling them to access teaching material, guidelines and academic resources swiftly.

This has significantly improved teaching quality while also reducing the administrative burden on educators.

He said the state government was planning large-scale recruitments in the Education Department, including both temporary and regular appointments.

“Temporary appointments would be made for a period of five years, while regular appointments would be carried out batch-wise through a competitive process,” he said. Recruitment of multi-utility workers would also be undertaken.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur said the state had achieved unprecedented progress in the education sector, with the state’s literacy rate reaching 99.30 per cent.

He said the government had undertaken qualitative reforms with a positive approach, which were being widely appreciated at the national level and now yielding positive results.

He said that state has also shown significant improvement in the Performance Grading Index (PGI). Project Director Samagra Shiksha Rajesh Sharma highlighted the achievements of the Samagra Shiksha.

BJP president JP Nadda addressed a rally in Shimla, criticising the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh for alleged misgovernance and failure to utilise central government funds for development projects.

Nadda accused the state government of spreading misinformation and failing to complete key development initiatives.

He highlighted that several projects, including highways, medical colleges and the AIIMS in Bilaspur, were launched by the central government but remain underutilised due to state inaction.

Speaking on the recent Bihar elections, Nadda praised the people of Bihar for giving a historic mandate to the NDA, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the victory reflects the people’s trust in Modi’s leadership and policies.

Reiterating the BJP’s commitment to development and good governance, Nadda emphasised the party’s ideology centered on “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.”

He urged the people of Himachal Pradesh to hold the Congress government accountable for its failures and support the BJP’s efforts to drive development in the state.

The higher hills of Himachal Pradesh will experience light snowfall and rain on December 13 and 14, bringing relief from the ongoing dry spell in the state.

As per the State’s Meteorological Department, higher reaches of Chamba, Kinnaur & Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts are likely to witness light snowfall and rain on December 13 and 14. However, the weather is likely to remain dry in the rest of the state till December 17.

During this period, minimum temperatures will be above normal, ranging between 2°C to 10°C in most parts of the state and between minus 8°C to 2°C in the higher reaches of the state.

The weather was mostly dry across the state during the past 24 hours, with most parts of the state witnessing a bright sunny day.

Shimla, the state’s capital recorded 9°C minimum temperature while Dharamsala recorded 7°C. Minimum temperature in Manali was 2.3°C, Kangra 5.4°C, Mandi 3.7°C, Solan 3°C, Bilaspur 6.5°C, Hamirpur 3.9°C, Kalpa 1°C, Sundernagar 2.7°C, Bhuntar 2.1°C, Kufri 5.6°C, Narkanda 3.4°C, Reckong Peo 3.4°C and Tabo minus 4.6°C.

With 26.4°C maximum temperature, Una was the hottest place in the state while Kukumseri village in Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest as it recorded minus 6.3°C minimum temperature.

Parliamentary delegations from six countries have jointly reaffirmed their solidarity with the Tibetan peoples’ right to preserve their religion, culture and identity.

The delegation included Jitka Seitlová, MP, Czech Republic; Barbara Pocock, MP, Australia; Vlado Mirosevic, MP, Chile; Samantha Cazebonne, MP, France; Greg Fleming, MP, New Zealand; and Virendra Lal, MP, Fiji.

Talking to media here today, Czech MP Seitlová said their purpose of their visit to McLeodganj, the home of Dalai Lama, was to demonstrate continued international support for the Tibetan people’s right to preserve their religion, culture and identity.

Recalling the Czech Republic’s own history of repression, she said her country empathises deeply with the Tibetan struggle and opposes reports of torture in Tibet.

She added that visit on the occasion of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birth anniversary year was a privilege, calling him a global moral guide.

The Australian MP Barbara Pocock lauded the cultural performances by Tibetan children during official ceremonies and reiterated Australia’s consistent position on human rights. She said Australia supports the rights of Tibetans—both inside Tibet and in exile—to live without interference or intimidation.

The Chilean MP Vlado Mirosevic recalled his audience with the Dalai Lama, during which the Tibetan spiritual leader emphasised the Middle Way Approach and the need for dialogue with China.

Mirosevic said Chile maintains positive diplomatic and trade relations with China, adding that he does not seek to disrupt them but supports peaceful dialogue as essential for both Tibetans and Chinese.

The French MP Samantha Cazebonne said her participation in the delegation was a clear expression of support for the Tibetan cause and reaffirmed France’s commitment to Tibetans’ peaceful aspirations.

The New Zealand MP Greg Fleming stressed that Tibetans have the right to pass their heritage to younger generations and live freely in their homeland. He asserted that China must not interfere in the selection of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation.

The Fijian MP Virendra Lal underlined the significance of language as a core component of identity and said the world today urgently needs truth and equality.

Earlier, the delegations participated in a function organised to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel peace prize on the Dalai Lama on Wednesday. They also met the Dalai Lama and discussed various issues of the Tibetan community.

The Himachal Pradesh Congress government on Thursday marked the completion of its three-year term with a massive show of strength at Paddal ground in Mandi district, where Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, senior leaders and thousands of supporters gathered for what was projected as both a celebration and a political warning to the BJP ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.

Addressing the crowd, Chief Minister Sukhu said the overwhelming public turnout reflected the trust the people continued to place in the Congress government.

He recalled becoming Chief Minister with the blessings of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, emphasising his “common family background” and the party’s legacy of sacrifice.

Sukhu invoked Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, reminding critics of Congress ideology that the party had lost two prime ministers “for the sake of the nation.”

He recounted visiting orphaned children on his first day as Chief Minister instead of going to the Secretariat, an act he said symbolised his government’s people-first approach.

Sukhu highlighted that 6,000 orphans had been declared “Children of the State,” receiving government support, including Rs 3 lakh for house construction, Rs 1 lakh for tuition and Rs 4,000 in monthly pocket money.

Taking direct aim at the previous BJP government, Sukhu alleged it had left Himachal burdened with a debt of Rs 75,000 crore. He said the present government was forced to take loans merely to repay older ones.

He accused the BJP of granting Sixth Pay Commission benefits at the last moment before the 2022 election notifications for political gains. The restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), he said, was done in the very first cabinet meeting out of commitment to government employees, not politics.

Sukhu alleged the Central government withheld Rs 1,600 crore in retaliation for resuming OPS in the state. The Chief Minister revisited the devastation caused by the 2023 monsoon disaster, where 75,000 tourists were stranded in Kullu, Manali, Lahaul, and Spiti. He said the state government swiftly restored roads, water supply, and food systems.

While a central team assessed damages at Rs 9,300 crore, the state received only Rs 500 crore. The government, he said, announced its own Rs 4,500 crore relief package and changed rules to support affected families.

A total of 23,000 houses were damaged, and the state offered Rs. 7 lakh to each affected family for reconstruction. Sukhu further accused the BJP of corruption, citing instances where public land of 4,500 bighas was allotted for only Rs 1.32 crore, customised industrial packages were granted with waived registration fees, and power was offered to certain industrialists at Rs 3 per unit.

He claimed the BJP government renewed wine contracts in four years for Rs. 450 crore, while the Congress government recovered the same amount in just one year through auction.

He highlighted the recovery of Rs 350 crore in the Wildflower Hall case and Rs 250 crore from JSW, saying the funds had been deposited in the state treasury.

The Chief Minister predicted that in 2027, the Congress would return to power with an even bigger mandate, saying the party would win 52 seats. Congress in-charge for Himachal Rajni Patil lauded the state government’s performance, describing the day as an important milestone and claiming that six guarantees had been fulfilled. She praised the government’s aggressive drive against drugs and its economic and social welfare focus.

She said the Congress would definitely return to power in the 2027 assembly election in Himachal. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri delivered a strongly worded speech, calling the event a “warning bell” for those who believed they could win elections “by sitting at home.”

He said Himachal was built by Congress governments and received statehood under the Gandhi family, alleging the BJP had opposed it. He accused BJP leaders of visiting Delhi to hamper central aid to Himachal, saying Rs 1,200 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Rs. 1,500 crore announced by Prime Minister Modi were still pending.

He reiterated that OPS was restored for employees’ welfare and questioned why the Central Government was opposing it. Agnihotri also warned government officials allegedly working to please BJP leaders, stating they would be dealt with strictly.

He urged the Chief Minister to take strong action where needed and demanded preference for senior party leaders in government roles.

HPCC president Vinay Kumar said the past three years had been tough due to the disaster, but the government worked tirelessly to help affected families.

He targeted Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut, saying she did not visit disaster-hit areas during the crisis. He said the party’s focus would remain on development and strengthening Congress in Mandi.

A coffee-table book documenting three years of development work was also released on the occasion. On this occasion, Gallantry awardees and sports persons were also honored on the stage.

PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and former HPCC president Pratibha Singh remained absent from this event.

The event, marked by fiery speeches and political messaging, signaled the beginning of an assertive campaign phase for the Congress as it seeks to consolidate its position ahead of the next electoral battle.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has uncovered major lapses in the valuation of properties across several sub-registrar offices, leading to a substantial revenue loss of Rs 5.37 crore to the state exchequer.

A CAG report on the Revenue Department for the period ended March 2022 was laid on the table of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha last week.

The shortfall occurred due to incorrect application of Circle rates and acceptance of false affidavits regarding the distance of landholdings from the roads, which determine the applicable Stamp Duty (SD) and Registration Fee (RF).

According to Article 23 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, amended in 2013, the Stamp Duty is levied at six per cent for men and four per cent for women in Himachal Pradesh on either the market value of the property or the consideration amount, whichever is higher.

The Revenue Department’s 2012 notification mandates a two per cent registration fee on the same basis. A further notification issued in January 2016 classified land in rural and urban areas into five categories based on their distance from national highways, state highways and other roads.

The purchasers are asked to file affidavits declaring the land’s distance from these road. The submitting of false affidavits could attract a penalty of up to 50 per cent of the SD/RF applicable to them.

In the first set of findings, the auditors scrutinised records from 27 sub-registrar offices for the period 2017–2021. It found that 151 sale deeds were registered for a consideration amount of Rs 38.60 crore, on which the SD and RF of Rs 2.45 crore was levied.

However, the revenue authorities overlooked self-affidavits and jamabandis that would indicate the correct distance classification and nature of the land.

The cross-verification with patwaris on distance certificates revealed that incorrect Circle rates had been applied on the purchasers. Had the correct rates been used, the valuation would have been Rs 55.84 crore, and SD and RF amounting to Rs 3.92 crore should have been levied.

This resulted in a short levy of Rs 1.47 crore, comprising Rs 1.06 crore in Stamp Duty and Rs 0.41 crore in Registration Fee.

In the second case, the auditors examined records of 32 sub-registrar offices, where 470 deeds registered between 2017 and 2020 relied solely on self-declared affidavits regarding land distance. These deeds were valued at Rs 83.23 crore, with the SD and RF of Rs 4.94 crore collected by the revenue department.

However, auditors cross-checked the affidavits with official maps (latha) maintained by kanungos and found that the correct valuation should have been Rs 123.10 crore.

Consequently, the SD and RF worth Rs 8.84 crore should have been collected. The discrepancy led to a short levy of Rs 3.90 crore (Rs 2.83 crore in SD and Rs 1.07 crore in RF).

The Sub-Registrars stated that doubtful affidavits would be examined by the revenue authorities, but no concrete corrective action was documented by them.

Despite being referred to the government in March 2023, the audit observations did not receive a response as of January.