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Himachal CM Sukhu said, “A committee has been formed to address the misbehaviour, yet you are running news about samosas.”
Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s office said wrong statements were being made over the issue. (PTI File/X)
What’s in the humble samosa? The recipe for a political row if you are in Himachal Pradesh.
The last time samosas made political news was when Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) Lalu Prasad Yadav coined the famous slogan – ‘Jab tak samosa mein aloo tab tak Bihar mein rahega Lalu’.
In Himachal, it began with three boxes of samosas delivered to CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s residence, which were allegedly eaten by the staff on duty.
All hell broke loose when it was discovered that the samosas never reached the CM. Reports claimed a Crime Investigation Department (CID) probe was allegedly ordered to check who “took away the samosas”. The state, however, has denied the claims.
ANTI-PEOPLE MOVE: BJP
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), meanwhile, called the “CID probe ridiculous” and “anti-people”.
Jairam Thakur, the former CM, said, “This is ridiculous. So what if the poor people ate it?”
Amit Malviya, BJP leader, posted on X: “Who moved Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s samosa? CID will find out… 😂”
BJP MLA Satpal Singh Satti told ANI, “Ever since the Congress government has come to power in Himachal Pradesh, newer things come to light every day. Employees are not getting salaries in a month and sometimes a ban is imposed on jobs in Himachal Pradesh, but no attention is paid to it. But for the Chief Minister’s programme, samosas were ordered from a five-star hotel and instead of reaching there, some people ate them on the way. An inquiry was put on them and high-ranking officials were appointed. The officials have done it through them. By calling the incident of eating samosas anti-government and anti-Himachal, an inquiry is being conducted on them. This is a very funny matter. Big scandals are happening in different departments in Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister should pay attention to them…”
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said: “They are not able to give the salary of government employees. They are eating samosa on the toilet seat. This is the real face of the Congress. The Congress government is a complete failure.”
WHAT THE CM, CID SAID
Sukhu said, “A committee has been formed to address the misbehaviour, yet you are running news about samosas…The DGP has already given a clarification in this regard…The BJP’s behaviour in raking up this issue is childish and laughable.”
On the dissolution of the state unit, the CM said, “It comes under the PCC. The party president is aware of it.”
Sanjeev Ranjan Ojha, DG CID, said, “…This is completely an internal matter of the CID. It should not be politicised. The CM does not eat samosas… We have not given notice to anyone. We have just said to find out what happened. The government has nothing to do with this… We will find out how this information was leaked.”
#WATCH | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: On the ‘samosa’ controversy, Sanjeev Ranjan Ojha, DG CID says, “…This is completely an internal matter of the CID. It should not be politicised. The CM does not eat samosas… We have not given notice to anyone. We have just said to find out… pic.twitter.com/bJkaZdti6b— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2024
WRONG STATEMENTS: CMO
Naresh Chauhan, Himachal CM’s media advisor, said, “Wrong statements are being made…No inquiry is going on. It might be an internal matter of the CID. It’s very sad that such statements are being given on such an issue.”
“The CM does not have samosa and did not order it. The probe is not on missing samosas, but on the misbehaviour of the staff. A wrong narrative is being pushed. We are checking who misbehaved with the DIG,” said sources close to the CM’s office.
#WATCH | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh | On investigation being held regarding the issue of CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s refreshment allegedly served to his staff, BJP MLA Satpal Singh Satti says, “Ever since the Congress government has come to power in Himachal Pradesh, newer things… pic.twitter.com/7c8hagLy0n— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2024
STATE ALREADY UNDER FIRE
The Sukhu government has been under fire for many fiscal decisions. One of them was the toilet tax order for every extra toilet. The order had to be pulled off under pressure.
But the inability of the government to pay salaries on time, money not being put into accounts of women as promised during the polls has given the BJP a turn to say, “We told you so.”
Coming during the Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls, this could be bad timing for the Congress and an opportunity for the BJP.
The CM’s office clarified that the CM stays away from fried stuff. But this is one samosa is stuffed with political masala which won’t be forgotten nor eaten in a hurry.
