Shimla, February 28
BJP State Media In-charge and MLA Randhir Sharma, addressing a press conference today, levelled serious allegations against the Himachal Pradesh government and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in connection with the AI Impact Summit 2026 controversy.
Sharma said that the semi-nude protest carried out by Youth Congress workers on February 20, 2026, during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi was a “deeply irresponsible and anti-national act.” He emphasized that the summit was hosted by the Government of India and attended by representatives from over 100 countries. “This was not a BJP event; it was a global platform showcasing India’s technological leadership. Such conduct did not harm a political party’s image but tarnished the nation’s reputation before the world,” he said.
The BJP leader alleged that the Chief Minister was the “mastermind” behind the episode and accused him of misusing constitutional and legislative procedures for political purposes. Referring to the Himachal Pradesh Assembly’s Budget Session that began on March 16, 2026, Sharma said that as per established convention, a Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address should have been taken up. Instead, the government brought a resolution on the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) issue, ignoring legislative norms despite objections from the Leader of the Opposition.
Sharma pointed out that the RDG resolution was debated for three days and passed on February 18, after which the House was abruptly adjourned. “If RDG was truly the most important issue, why did the Chief Minister not meet the Prime Minister or the Union Finance Minister in Delhi to pursue the matter? Instead, meetings were reportedly held with Congress leaders while preparations were underway for the February 20 protest,” he alleged.
Sharma further claimed that individuals involved in the protest were accommodated at Himachal Sadan in Delhi and that the Chief Minister had publicly acknowledged that the room bookings were made through his office. “This alone warrants a thorough and independent investigation into the role of the Chief Minister’s Office,” he said.
According to Sharma, after an FIR was registered in Delhi, some of the accused were allegedly moved to remote areas in Himachal Pradesh under government protection. When the Delhi Police, armed with proper documentation and court-approved transit remand, attempted to take the accused back, Himachal Police allegedly obstructed them and registered an FIR against Delhi Police officials.
“This unprecedented confrontation between two police forces raises grave constitutional concerns. Was the Himachal Police acting under political pressure? The sequence of events suggests so,” Sharma said.
Sharma accused the state government of attempting to shield those involved and of politicising the RDG issue for diversionary tactics. “Instead of defending Himachal’s interests in Delhi, the Chief Minister appears to have prioritised political calculations,” he remarked. Calling the matter extremely serious, Sharma demanded a high-level probe by a central agency into the entire episode, including a specific investigation into the role of the Chief Minister and the Chief Minister’s Office. “Himachal Pradesh is known as a peaceful and patriotic state. It is unfortunate that the dignity of constitutional offices has been compromised. The truth must come out, and accountability must be fixed,” Sharma concluded.
