Tensions Erupt in Himachal Assembly
Shimla: On August 19, 2025, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly witnessed heightened tensions during the second day of the monsoon session as opposition members from the BJP staged a walkout. This protest was in response to alleged shortcomings in the Himcare health insurance initiative.
The uproar began at 11 am during the question hour, following a series of heated exchanges between BJP legislators and Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil.
BJP MLA Vinod Kumar from Nachan initiated the controversy by expressing concerns regarding the lack of implementation of the Himcare scheme in major hospitals, including AIIMS and state medical colleges. He questioned, “Despite previous assurances, patients holding Himcare cards are being denied treatment. Will the government guarantee that all hospitals accepting Himcare will treat eligible cardholders?”
In response, Health Minister Shandil remarked that the issue was raised with emotional intensity. He emphasized that the government has been consistently allocating funds for the scheme and is working to enhance its implementation. However, his remarks did not appease the opposition.
Adding to the debate, BJP MLA Randhir Sharma claimed that over Rs 365 crore in payments related to Himcare remain outstanding. He also raised concerns about the provisions for 25 hospitals where dialysis services were initiated under the scheme. As criticism intensified, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu intervened, defending the government's stance and launching a vigorous counterattack.
CM Sukhu Accuses BJP of Mismanagement
In a pointed rebuttal, CM Sukhu accused the previous BJP administration of turning the Himcare scheme into a platform for favoritism and financial mismanagement. He stated, “This scheme was exploited to benefit a select few. There was clear nepotism. We are not terminating the scheme; we are enhancing it. Improvements are in progress.”
He further alleged that the previous government had inflated package rates under Himcare, citing that gallbladder surgeries, which should cost between Rs 11,000 and Rs 15,000, had inflated claims approved under the scheme. “This was a scam,” he asserted, promising to reveal all past irregularities.
Sukhu announced plans to upgrade all state medical colleges and zonal hospitals to AIIMS standards within the next year, incorporating advanced technologies such as robotic surgery and automated laboratories to ensure top-tier healthcare access under Himcare.
Assembly Proceedings Disrupted
The situation escalated around 12:25 pm when Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania dismissed a point of order raised by Randhir Sharma. This led to an uproar among BJP legislators, resulting in a brief adjournment of the session for five minutes. When proceedings resumed at 12:30 pm, the opposition staged a walkout, accusing the government of dodging accountability.
This political drama has once again underscored the escalating tensions between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, with both parties exchanging serious allegations regarding the state's flagship healthcare program.
