Controversy Over Himachal Pradesh's Financial Health: A Political Tug-of-War

Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur criticized the governor's address, accusing the Congress government of failing to achieve significant milestones apart from incurring high debts. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu defended the state's strides under Congress, highlighting improvements in education and health. A political blame-game ensues.

In a charged political scenario, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has condemned the governor's recent address to the state assembly. Thakur argues the Congress government's so-called achievements boil down to borrowing a hefty Rs 30,000 crore in two years, pushing the state debt to a staggering Rs 1 lakh crore.

The BJP leader also criticized the Congress for failing to fulfill promises, such as the Mahila Samman Nidhi, while old-age pension payments have stalled, leaving pensioners agitated. Thakur claims that development in the state has reached a standstill, citing financial constraints related to the discontinuation of GST compensation and Revenue Deficit Grants (RDG).

On the other side of the aisle, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reclaimed the narrative, attributing financial turmoil to the previous BJP government. Sukhu argued that Congress has ushered in positive changes, notably in education and health, and lamented the lack of support from central leaders, particularly in addressing the 2023 monsoon disaster aftermath.

(With inputs from agencies.)