Hamirpur, November 4
Bharatiya Janata Party Himachal Pradesh State President Dr. Rajeev Bindal launched a scathing attack on the Congress government while addressing the district-level convention of the BJP Former Employees Cell in Hamirpur. He said that employees and officers who dedicated 30 to 40 years of their lives to serving Himachal Pradesh are now being forced to take to the streets to demand their legitimate rights.
Dr. Bindal said that senior citizens, even at the age of 80, are compelled to leave their homes and travel 200 to 400 kilometres to participate in protests and demonstrations. He described this situation as extremely unfortunate and shameful, accusing the Congress government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of violating the fundamental rights of pensioners and depriving them of their rightful retirement benefits. He stated that, for the first time in Himachal Pradesh’s history, nearly 1.5 lakh retired employees and officers are struggling to receive payments of their pending medical bills, Dearness Allowance (DA) installments, arrears and other financial dues.
“Those who devoted their entire working lives to the development and welfare of Himachal Pradesh deserve dignity, financial security and respect in their old age. Unfortunately, the Sukhu government has pushed these senior citizens and their families into financial hardship and mental distress,” Dr. Bindal said. He asserted that retired employees and officers have become deeply frustrated with the anti-people policies of the Congress government and will play a significant role in removing what he described as an incompetent and corrupt administration from power.
Addressing thousands of party workers and citizens gathered during the Hamirpur Padyatra, Dr. Bindal alleged that the Congress government has pushed Himachal Pradesh’s healthcare system into a serious crisis. He claimed that several essential diagnostic services in government hospitals have been disrupted, forcing lakhs of patients to visit private hospitals and laboratories and spend substantial amounts on medical investigations.
Dr. Bindal said that the Atal Swasthya Seva 108 Ambulance Service, launched on December 25, 2010, had served as a lifeline for thousands of people, particularly those living in remote and mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh. However, he alleged that the present Congress government has pushed this essential emergency service into a state of serious deterioration by failing to clear outstanding operational payments worth crores of rupees. He claimed that while the expected ambulance response time is approximately 15 to 20 minutes, patients in several areas are now being forced to wait for as long as two hours.
“In a mountainous state like Himachal Pradesh, where every minute matters during a medical emergency, such delays can put precious human lives at risk. The government’s failure to ensure the smooth functioning of the 108 Ambulance Service is completely unacceptable,” Dr. Bindal stated. Congress Government Responsible for Deteriorating Healthcare Facilities
Dr. Bindal said that the fundamental pillars of the state’s healthcare infrastructure have been severely weakened under the Congress government. He alleged that diagnostic services have been disrupted, essential medicines are frequently unavailable, surgeries have been affected, and the emergency 108 Ambulance Service is facing operational difficulties. He further claimed that beneficiaries of HIMCARE and Ayushman Bharat are struggling to receive treatment despite possessing valid healthcare cards.
Dr. Bindal said that the Congress government’s policies have increased the suffering of pensioners, senior citizens, poor families and patients across Himachal Pradesh. “On one hand, retired employees who dedicated decades to serving the state are fighting for their legitimate financial dues. On the other, ordinary citizens are struggling to access basic healthcare facilities. This reflects the complete administrative failure of the Sukhu government,” he said.
Dr. Bindal demanded that the state government immediately release all pending financial benefits of pensioners, including medical reimbursements, DA installments, arrears and other retirement dues. He also called for the immediate clearance of outstanding payments under HIMCARE, Ayushman Bharat, government hospital diagnostic services and the 108 Ambulance Service to restore the smooth functioning of the state’s healthcare system. Dr. Bindal asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party would continue to stand firmly with pensioners, employees, senior citizens and the people of Himachal Pradesh in their struggle for justice.