BJP and Congress clash over educational institute closures

In the Himachal assembly, the BJP and Congress exchanged harsh words about the closure of educational institutions. The BJP accused the Congress government of shutting down schools and colleges out of political spite. They claimed this decision hurt students and ignored the need for education in the state. Congress lawmakers responded by saying the BJP had opened many institutions without proper planning. They argued this created a financial burden for the state’s budget. The debate heated up when BJP MLA Randhir Sharma asked how many new institutions the Congress government had established by January 2025. He also questioned if there were budget arrangements for these schools. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri defended his party. He stated that the Congress has opened 35 new institutions in just one year. He assured that future establishments would be based on the state's requirements. He accused the previous BJP government of opening hundreds of institutions merely to gain electoral advantages, without any budget planning. Randhir Sharma quickly shot back, claiming the Congress government immediately closed institutions started by the BJP. In response, Agnihotri reiterated that the Congress was responsibly setting up institutions. He emphasized the need for rationalizing operations in various departments, including education. Opposition leader Jai Ram Thakur criticized the Congress government, labeling their actions as motivated by political vendetta. He called it a shameful act in the history of Himachal Pradesh. The debate highlighted the tensions between the two parties over education and governance.