Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently addressed a controversy stemming from a CID probe over a mix-up involving samosas and cakes intended for him but mistakenly served to his security staff. Sukhu clarified to ANI that the CID involvement was due to allegations of misbehavior, not because of the refreshments mix-up itself. He stated, “There is no such thing… It (CID) got involved on the issue of misbehavior, but you (the media) are running news about ‘samosa.'”
The incident occurred on October 21 during Sukhu’s visit to the CID headquarters, where refreshments from Hotel Radisson Blue in Lakkar Bazaar were mistakenly given to his security personnel. According to reports, an Inspector General (IG)-level officer initially requested refreshments and delegated the task through several ranks. Due to miscommunication, the snacks were eventually served to the security staff in the mechanical transport (MT) section.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the incident, linking it to what they describe as Himachal Pradesh’s financial challenges. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari used the incident as an opportunity to critique the Congress-led state government, suggesting that the state’s financial woes prevent it from paying salaries to key officials. He linked this to Congress’s broader economic policies, referencing what he called Rahul Gandhi’s “Khata-khat model” and “Revdi culture,” which he claimed contributes to fiscal irresponsibility through unsustainable promises and freebies.
Bhandari cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warnings about this “Revdi culture” and pointed to Karnataka as an example, alleging that the state, also under Congress rule, is facing a financial crisis with rising costs of essentials like milk and water. He concluded by demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi, arguing that the Congress leader’s promises have proven unrealistic and financially damaging.
