Himachal received 5 times more funds under Modi govt: LoP Jairam Thakur

Shimla: Leader of opposition Jairam Thakur on Thursday criticised the Congress govt in Himachal Pradesh for misrepresenting the state's financial situation, claiming that under the Narendra Modi-led central govt, the state received over five times more funding compared to the UPA era.Thakur, while addressing a press conference, alleged that it was during the UPA rule that injustice prevailed, highlighting that finance commission data shows Rs 89,254 crore received under the 14th and 15th Commissions as compared to Rs 18,000 crore received during the 12th and 13th Commissions. He argued that despite substantial support from the Centre, the Congress govt continued blaming the former instead of managing state finances responsibly. He urged the state to focus on solutions following the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant (RDG), stressing that fiscal discipline and sound policy are essential for development, salaries, pensions, and commitments.Referring to the legislative assembly proceedings, he accused chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of misrepresenting data on loans, pointing out inconsistencies between statements on total borrowings and repayments. Thakur said politicising financial issues while presenting conflicting figures undermined public trust. He highlighted that during the previous BJP tenure, most of the debt was repaid, while the current govt immediately took Rs 6,900 crore in loans but attributed them to the prior administration. Thakur emphasised that political speeches alone cannot resolve economic challenges and reaffirmed that the BJP stands ready to cooperate in the state's interest. However, he warned that attempts to distort Himachal's financial reality for political gain would be countered with facts and data, insisting that responsible governance is necessary for democratic cooperation. MSID:: 128556302 413 |