CM urges BJP to raise RDG issue with PM, highlights state’s fiscal reforms

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday called upon the BJP leaders to take up the issue of discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant (RDG) with the Prime Minister instead of targeting him politically.Addressing the media after returning to Shimla from Delhi, Sukhu said the abolition of RDG would cost the state nearly Rs 10,000 crore annually between 2026 and 2031, severely impacting its finances.He stressed that the RDG, a constitutional provision under Article 275(1), was meant to bridge the gap between states' revenue and expenditure. The CM urged the BJP leaders to unite in safeguarding the state's interests, adding that he repeatedly appealed for a collective approach but doubted their willingness to cooperate.Sharing details of his meeting with former Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, Sukhu said he discussed the state's concerns regarding the 16th Finance Commission's report and its likely implications.He also highlighted the financial strain inherited from the previous BJP govt, including a debt burden of Rs 75,000 crore and pending liabilities of Rs 10,000 crore in salaries and pensions. Sukhu said he could not meet Union health minister J P Nadda to discuss the issue of RDG discontinuation because of the latter's busy schedule during Parliament session.Despite these challenges, he said, his govt generated an additional Rs 3,800 crore in revenue through anti-corruption measures and systemic reforms. The CM added that during the tenure of the BJP govt, the state received RDG amounting to Rs 54,296 crore, whereas the present state govt received only Rs 17,563 crore over the last three years."In five years of the BJP regime, they received nearly Rs 70,000 crore. If they repaid Rs 40,000 crore of the loans, the state would not have fallen into a debt trap. Jai Ram Thakur should explain to the people of the state where the Rs 70,000 crore was spent and who benefited from it," said Sukhu.He accused the previous govt of wasteful spending and said his administration adopted the austerity measures without abolishing posts, while creating employment opportunities.The CM also cited administrative rationalisation, the merger of institutions, and a reduction in senior cadre posts as steps towards fiscal discipline.Emphasising Himachal Pradesh's ecological contribution of Rs 90,000 crore to the national economy, he vowed to continue fighting for the state's rightful resources.MSID:: 128206010 413 |