himachal-cms-missing-samosas-spark-controversy
Himachal : A seemingly trivial incident involving missing samosas intended for Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has escalated into a political controversy, drawing sharp exchanges between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. The incident, which took place during a CM’s official program, led to the launch of a CID probe into the “misbehavior” of police officials, with five officers now facing disciplinary action.
The controversy began when police officers mistakenly consumed samosas and other refreshments meant for the Chief Minister’s event. An investigation report revealed that a senior police officer had ordered food from a five-star hotel for the CM’s program. The food, which included three boxes of samosas and cake, was handed over to a woman officer without clear instructions on who it was meant for. Unaware that the items were meant for the CM, the officer directed the food to be placed in the MT (Motor Transport) section, where it was eventually served to the staff in the office of the Inspector General (IG).
Despite the CID’s clarification that the probe was about the mismanagement of official duties, the issue became a political flashpoint. Governor Sukhu clarified that the inquiry was focused on “misbehavior” rather than the missing samosas themselves. CID Director General Ranjhan Ojha stated that the matter had been mishandled and that no formal charges were being issued, emphasizing the need for a written clarification rather than disciplinary action.
The BJP, however, ridiculed the state government for making a “laughing stock” out of the issue, criticizing the focus on samosas while real public concerns were sidelined. Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, also mocked the government’s priorities, suggesting that the samosas incident reflected poorly on the administration’s decision-making process.
The samosas controversy follows a similar incident from last month, when BJP leaders sent boxes of jalebis to Congress headquarters after winning elections in Haryana, further adding fuel to the ongoing political rivalry between the parties.
