Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday, 22 June 2026, extended heartfelt condolences on the passing of Smt. Barto Devi, mother of Rakesh Kumar Malhi, district correspondent for a news channel covering Una, Punjab, and Haryana. The Chief Minister expressed grief over the loss and prayed for strength for the bereaved family.

Context

CM Sukhu posted his condolences in Hindi on X, describing the news of Smt. Barto Devi's passing as 'atyant duhkhad evam peedadayak' (extremely sorrowful and painful). He prayed that the departed soul find peace at the feet of the Almighty, and that the grieving family be granted patience, strength, and resilience in this hour of profound loss.

The Chief Minister concluded his message with the words 'Om Shanti', a traditional Hindu expression of peace offered in memory of the deceased. He wrote: 'My deepest condolences are with the bereaved family members.'

Policy Backdrop

Indian chief ministers across party lines routinely issue public condolences on social media when journalists or their immediate family members pass away. Such gestures acknowledge the vital role that regional correspondents play in covering districts like Una, which borders both Punjab and Haryana and sits at a geographically significant junction for northern Indian news coverage.

The practice is particularly common in Himachal Pradesh, where a relatively small pool of district-level journalists maintains close working relationships with the state administration. CM Sukhu, who assumed office in December 2022, has maintained consistent public engagement with the press community through such statements.

Stakeholders and Impact

Rakesh Kumar Malhi serves as district correspondent covering Una — a district in the lower hills of Himachal Pradesh — alongside the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. District correspondents in border regions like Una often function as the primary link between local communities and state-level political communication.

The Chief Minister's public message reaches not only the Malhi family but also the wider journalist community across the three states, signalling the state government's regard for media workers at the grassroots level.

What's Next

Condolence messages from other state leaders or political figures in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh may follow, as is customary when a regional journalist's family suffers a bereavement. The Malhi family is expected to receive support from colleagues and press associations active in the Una region.

Such expressions from sitting chief ministers also reinforce the broader expectation of institutional respect for the press — a sentiment that carries weight in states where local media coverage shapes public opinion at the district level.