The controversy over samosas served at an official event in Himachal Pradesh has become a political flashpoint, with the state BJP accusing the Congress government of becoming a “laughing stock” after ordering a CID inquiry into the incident.
The controversy began on October 21, when samosas and cake intended for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu were mistakenly served to his security staff during a visit to the CID headquarters. The mix-up led to the CID launching an inquiry, calling it an “anti-government” act.
BJP state chief Satpal Satti criticised the government for focusing on such a trivial issue. “The police should focus on the many scandals, from the CM’s office to the secretariat, instead of wasting their time on petty matters,” Satti said in a statement issued here.
Satti also claimed the Congress government had failed to address the real concerns of the people. “This government is more concerned about how samosas are being served than about the public’s problems. It has become a laughing stock,” he added.
However, the state government denied any formal inquiry. Naresh Chauhan, the media advisor to the chief minister, said the matter was an internal issue within the CID and that the government had not ordered an investigation. “Some people are trying to create a conspiracy to tarnish the government’s image,” Chauhan said, urging the BJP to act like a responsible opposition.
CID Director General Ranjhan Ojha clarified that the inquiry was merely a request for clarification, not a formal investigation. He explained that after the event, officials noticed the food intended for the function had been served to security staff and sought to understand what had happened. “We simply asked for clarification. No notices were issued, and there is no intention to take any action,” Ojha said.
Despite the clarification, BJP spokespersons continued to attack the state government. Chief spokesperson Randhir Sharma accused the government of neglecting important issues, focusing instead on the “chief minister’s samosa.”
Chetan Bragata, another BJP spokesperson, said the incident highlighted the government’s misplaced priorities. “While the public faces numerous challenges, the state government is obsessed with samosas,” Bragata said. “Development work has come to a standstill, and the chief minister should focus on that, not petty issues.”
(With PTI inputs)