Himachal Pradesh Assembly Clash Over Temple Gold Mortgaging Allegations

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri accused opposition leader Jai Ram Thakur of trying to create a sensation by alleging the government planned to mortgage temple gold. In response to questions in the Himachal Pradesh assembly, Agnihotri clarified there were no such plans and criticized Thakur for irresponsibility.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri asserted on Thursday that Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur is intentionally attempting to 'destabilize the government' and create unnecessary 'sensation.' Speaking in the Himachal Pradesh assembly, Agnihotri confirmed that the state government has no plans to mortgage temple gold and silver.

Responding to Congress MLA Malendra Rajan and supplementary questions by BJP's Sudhir Sharma and Jai Ram Thakur, Agnihotri questioned which temple Thakur referred to in his allegations. 'It is the imagination of the Leader of the Opposition to create sensation and the government has no such plans; the LOP should speak with responsibility,' he stated.

The controversy arises amidst political tension over Himachal Pradesh's financial health. The government recently decided to defer payments to state employees, which the opposition BJP described as a financial crisis, while the chief minister labeled it as reform measures for self-reliance.

(With inputs from agencies.)