Illegal Mining Crackdown: Political Tensions in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced a crackdown on illegal mining, implicating public representatives, including relatives of BJP MLA Ashish Sharma. A raid uncovered illegal activities at a stone crusher owned by Parveen Sharma. Political disputes arise over accusations of vendetta against the BJP.

Devdiscourse News Desk | Shimla | Updated: 02-09-2025 23:12 IST | Created: 02-09-2025 23:12 IST

Illegal Mining Crackdown: Political Tensions in Himachal Pradesh — This image is AI-generated and does not depict any real-life event or location. It is a fictional representation created for illustrative purposes only.

Country:
India

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addressed the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, highlighting illegal mining activities allegedly protected by some public representatives. Sukhu emphasized that swift, stringent actions will be taken against such entities, irrespective of their political clout.

A significant raid took place at a stone crusher in the Sujanpur area, owned by Parveen Sharma, a relative of Hamirpur BJP MLA Ashish Sharma. Despite the official closure of the crusher from July 2024, it was reportedly found involved in illegal operations. The authorities confiscated several machines and 50 tippers laden with boulders.

While police claim these actions are part of an operation against illegal mining, Ashish Sharma argues it is politically motivated, linked to his casting vote against Congress in a recent Rajya Sabha poll. Sukhu assured that the government prioritizes protecting natural resources, and offenders will face severe repercussions.

(With inputs from agencies.)