Himachal Assembly Stalls as Anthem Row Deepens

The tension intensified after the BJP demanded the release of official video footage to debunk claims by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu that opposition members had dishonored the National Anthem. Following the release of the recording, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania officially ruled that no disrespect occurred. Despite this, the BJP continues to demand an apology, arguing the Chief Minister misled the house to score political points.

Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani dismissed the controversy as a calculated distraction. He alleged the BJP is attempting to bury inquiries into examination paper leaks and land transaction irregularities by fixating on parliamentary protocol. According to Dharmani, the assembly follows established conventions, and the government remains committed to preventing the systemic corruption he claims characterized the previous BJP administration.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur rejected these claims, asserting that the government’s narrative is a fabrication used to mobilize protests against his party. Thakur cited a July 9 notification, arguing that standard protocol requires the National Song to precede the National Anthem. He maintained that the Speaker’s ruling failed to address the core procedural grievance, suggesting that the government is weaponizing national pride to avoid accountability for the state’s rising cost of living and administrative failures.