BJP Voices Concerns Over Himachal Pradesh's Financial Management
In Shimla, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed significant concerns regarding the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government's handling of state finances during an all-party meeting convened on Friday. The meeting was specifically called to discuss the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant (RDG), a critical financial support mechanism.
BJP Delegation Criticizes Government's Approach
The BJP delegation, which included prominent figures such as state president Dr. Rajeev Bindal, former chief minister and leader of opposition in the Himachal assembly Jai Ram Thakur, MLAs Randhir Sharma, Vinod Kumar, Balbir Verma, and Trilok Jamwal, along with state media convenor Karan Nanda, emphasized that development is a shared responsibility. They strongly criticized the Congress government for attempting to shift the burden of financial mismanagement onto the central government.
Dr. Rajeev Bindal clarified that the discontinuation of the RDG was not a sudden decision but followed the structured recommendations of the Finance Commission. He urged the state government to focus on improving revenue generation, controlling non-essential spending, and strengthening fiscal discipline rather than creating unnecessary panic among the public.
Walkout in Protest and Central Contributions Highlighted
The BJP delegation also objected to what they described as unparliamentary remarks made against the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the meeting. In protest, they walked out of the proceedings. Bindal stated that while the party supports constructive discussions on state issues, it will firmly oppose any politicized narratives that ignore factual data and responsible governance principles.
Earlier in the meeting, Bindal presented detailed figures to underscore the substantial central assistance provided to Himachal Pradesh. He noted that the state received significant financial support, including approximately Rs 50,000 crore in 2022-23, Rs 43,000 crore in 2023-24, and around Rs 35,000 crore each in 2024-25 and 2025-26 through tax devolution, various central schemes, and infrastructure funding.
Infrastructure and Development Projects Emphasized
Furthermore, Bindal highlighted ongoing national highway projects worth Rs 44,000 crore, railway expansions, tunnel constructions, and industrial initiatives such as the bulk drug park. These projects, he emphasized, demonstrate the central government's robust contributions to the state's growth and development, reinforcing the need for collaborative efforts rather than blame-shifting.
The all-party meeting, intended to foster dialogue on critical financial matters, thus ended with the BJP's exit, marking a significant political standoff over fiscal responsibility and governance in Himachal Pradesh.
