Said, this is not just an insult to a minister but also disgrace to the democratic set up, cultural dignity and constitutional values
Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani have strongly reacted to the unfortunate incident involving Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi in the Seraj Assembly Constituency of Mandi district. The two leaders termed the episode not just an insult to a minister but also a disgrace to the democratic set up, cultural dignity, and constitutional values of the state.
In a joint statement issued today, Anirudh Singh and Dharmani said, “Himachal Pradesh has always been an example of mutual harmony, culture, and democratic values. But the incident that occurred in Seraj is a serious blot on the state's decent image, which cannot be accepted at any level. The state government strongly condemns this incident.”
They clarified that Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi is a senior public representative holding a constitutional position, who had gone to the Seraj region to assess the damage caused by a recent natural disaster and to meet the affected families. However, some anti-social elements behaved with him in a premeditated and indecent manner. The two ministers described the act as a “well-planned conspiracy” and held the BJP accountable. They said, “This entire incident appears to have taken place under the patronage of BJP leaders. The BJP has laid the foundation for an extremely unfortunate tradition in the political history of the state, the consequences of which could be quite grave in the future.”
Anirudh Singh and Rajesh Dharmani further stated that while there was room for dissent and protest in a democracy, but even protests have its own decorum. If it turns violent or insulting, it no longer remains a democratic right but becomes a criminal act. They categorically said, “What happened in Seraj was not just a symbol of disrespect towards a minister, but an act that hurts Himachal’s democratic identity and mature political culture. The government will not tolerate such behavior under any circumstances,” they asserted.