Sukhu defends declared assets worth Rs 7.81 crore, alleges BJP conspiracy over ADR findings

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday dismissed a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) that named him the richest chief minister in North India, alleging that the findings were part of a BJP conspiracy to malign his image.

According to the ADR report analysing the assets of serving chief ministers across India, Sukhu has declared assets worth Rs 7.81 crore, making him the wealthiest chief minister in North India.

Responding to the report, Sukhu said the property mentioned in his election affidavit was acquired two decades ago and its value had increased over the years.

“I purchased a plot 20 years ago for Rs 12 lakh and constructed a house on it. Over the years, the property’s value has appreciated, and the same property is mentioned in my election affidavit,” Sukhu told reporters in Shimla.

Accusing the BJP of attempting to create a negative perception about him, Sukhu said properties could be built through “hard work and honesty” and that he had been working for nearly 40 years.

“No new property has been added since I became chief minister. Rather, the property has been reduced, and this will be reflected in my election affidavit during the next elections,” he said.

Sukhu also said that if there were doubts regarding his assets, the BJP could seek details from investigative agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. He added that an inquiry into the matter had been conducted earlier as well.

The chief minister further alleged that the ADR report contained incomplete details about his educational qualifications, claiming it did not mention his MA and LLB degrees and should be corrected.

On political defections, Sukhu said Congress MLAs were free to join the BJP if they wished, but the party needed leaders committed to its ideology rather than those who could be influenced.

He also alleged that BJP MLAs had approached the Congress for tickets but said the party would not induct leaders associated with the BJP, accusing the opposition party of links with issues such as “paper leaks and donation theft.”

Backing Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s criticism of newly appointed Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, Sukhu said the person holding the education portfolio should be an educationist with a clean image and should work to prevent incidents such as paper leaks.