Himachal Pradesh government directive: Use state machinery for Modi’s Jan Abhaar rally

The state machinery in Himachal Pradesh is allegedly being used to organise the logistics for a rally that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing today in Dharamshala, a government order accessed by The Caravan indicates. The rally is being held to mark the first anniversary of the formation of the Bharatiya Janta Party government in the state. According to the order, government officials have been given target numbers in the thousands, of people to be brought from across the hill state for the event—over 36,000 in all. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has been roped in to provide transportation.

The order, which appears to have been issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) of the government of Himachal Pradesh on 17 December, states:

The council of ministers in its meeting held on 15.12.2018 has decided that one year celebration function proposed to be held on 27th December, 2018 will be a State function and all expenses on this account will be borne by the government of Himachal Pradesh.

Further, it says that a “Labharthi Sammelan” will also be held—beneficiaries of central schemes since the BJP won the 2014 general election and all state schemes since the party took charge of the state “will be called for interaction with Hon’ble Prime Minister.” The directive asks officers to ensure that 36,500 beneficiaries are brought to Dharamshala from various districts: 15,000 from Kangra; 2,000 from Chamba; 3,000 each from Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur; 5,000 from Mandi; 1,000 each from Shimla and Solan (1,000); 2,000 from Kullu; and 500 each from Sirmour, Kinnaur, and Lahaul and Spiti. The order adds that the concerned deputy commissioners will coordinate with the district level officers of various departments to finalise the list of beneficiaries.

The directive details the logistical procedures that must be followed to ensure that the beneficiaries’ trip to Dharamshala is smooth. The order asks concerned departments to provide the beneficiaries with breakfast and lunch and the deputy commissioners to coordinate with the managing director of the HRTC for buses. It also asks that control rooms be opened in all districts as well as the state headquarters of the GAD—these rooms have to be in touch with liaison officers in each bus, who are responsible for keeping a track of the beneficiaries. The order asks the deputy commissioner of Kangra to arrange parking spaces for the buses and says that all expenses for bus transport will be paid by the GAD to the HRTC.

The order accessed by The Caravan bears the signature of Dr RN Batta, the secretary of the GAD. When I called his office to get a comment, I was told that he was unavailable as he was traveling abroad. I spoke to Manoj Tomar, the additional secretary of the GAD, who told me that he is coordinating the event. Tomar confirmed that around 36,000 people were being brought to Dharamshala for the event, which consists of a public meeting and a meeting with the beneficiaries of central and state schemes under the ruling dispensation. Tomar said, “I don’t have the details [of the specific schemes] but it will be on all the schemes, for instance Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suvidha, the Startup Scheme.” I asked him if public funds were being misused. He replied, “I cannot comment on whether it is a political event.”

This is not the first time the BJP has been seen as using public funds to further its own image. In October, the Rajasthan government’s department of information and public relations, or DIPR, was asked to provide coverage for Modi’s rally in Ajmer on 6 October. DIPR employees submitted a letter to the state’s chief secretary saying that government machinery was being deployed for a BJP political rally, in violation of a high court judgment. The Congress leader GS Bali has also accused the BJP of exploiting public resources for the Himachal Pradesh rally.

Sandeep Kumar, the deputy commissioner of Kangra district, said that around 35,0000 to 40,000 beneficiaries were being brought in 1,300 to 1,400 buses. When I asked him if there was pressure on government officials to meet a certain target of beneficiaries, he denied it. He said, “Nothing like this, people are coming voluntarily. It is our responsibility to get the identified beneficiaries to the Prime Minister’s event.”