Himachal SUV Row: The Himachal Pradesh government has found itself at the center of a growing controversy after approving the purchase of new Scorpio SUVs for chairmen of 10 Agricultural Produce and Marketing Committees (APMCs). The decision has sparked widespread outrage across the state, especially as Himachal grapples with a deepening financial crisis and mounting dues owed to farmers.
The anger is not merely about vehicles. It is about timing and priorities. The state has been struggling to manage its finances following the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant, and discussions about trimming welfare expenditure have already created unease among vulnerable sections of society. Against this backdrop, the delivery of brand-new SUVs has struck many as insensitive.
Three of the vehicles have already reached their destinations, while the remaining seven are expected soon. The proposal to purchase the vehicles was initially sent by the Himachal Pradesh State Agriculture Marketing Board (HPSAMB) and later cleared at the government level. That approval has now become the focal point of criticism.
The Marketing Board generates most of its revenue through marketing fees collected on agricultural and horticultural produce sold in APMC mandis. Farmer leaders argue that this money is meant to improve mandi infrastructure and support cultivators — not to fund what they describe as administrative luxury.
Harish Chauhan, convener of the Sanyukt Kisan Manch, did not mince words. He said farmers are still waiting for their pending Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) payments, particularly fruit growers who depend heavily on timely government support. According to him, allocating funds for SUVs while growers await dues sends the wrong message. Farmer organizations have demanded that the order be withdrawn immediately.
Kuldeep Singh Pathania, the newly appointed chairman of the HPSAMB, clarified that the proposal had been moved before he assumed office. He indicated that the board must have assessed its financial position before making the recommendation and suggested that it may be operating in surplus. He also said he would examine the details personally.
Despite this clarification, the controversy has refused to die down. An APMC chairman who has already received a vehicle suggested that the backlash is largely due to unfortunate timing. He said the approval was granted months ago, but the vehicles were delivered when the state’s financial situation had visibly worsened. According to him, APMC chairmen have been provided vehicles for many years.
However, an APMC secretary, speaking anonymously, presented a different view. He stated that chairmen are not entitled to permanently attached vehicles and can use official vehicles only for meetings and official tours. This contradiction has only intensified the public debate.
Political observers believe the issue has become symbolic of a larger concern — whether the government’s spending choices align with the hardships faced by ordinary citizens. With welfare schemes under scrutiny and farmers awaiting payments, critics argue that fiscal discipline should take precedence over administrative comfort.
The controversy is expected to echo in political circles in the coming days, with opposition parties likely to question the government’s priorities. Farmer groups have also indicated they may escalate their protest if the order is not reconsidered.
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For many in Himachal Pradesh, the debate is no longer about Scorpio SUVs alone. It is about accountability, transparency, and the responsible use of funds that ultimately originate from the hard work of farmers.