Himachal Pradesh Assembly Debate Erupts Over Alleged Development Halt
A sharp political confrontation unfolded in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor's Address. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur launched a fierce attack on the Congress-led state government, accusing it of bringing development works to a standstill, while Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu defended his administration by highlighting severe financial constraints and reduced support from the central government.
Thakur's Scathing Critique of Governance and Promises
Initiating the debate, Jai Ram Thakur pointed to the brevity of the Governor's address, which lasted just over two minutes, as a reflection of what he termed the lack of achievements under the current regime. He asserted that development projects across Himachal Pradesh have ground to a halt, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among various segments of society, including youth, women, and government employees. Thakur claimed that many individuals have been compelled to protest on the streets due to unmet expectations and poor governance.
Thakur specifically targeted the Congress party's pre-election guarantees, particularly the promise of financial assistance for women. He revealed that only Rs 7.43 crore has been disbursed so far, against a committed amount of Rs 1,500 crore intended to benefit over 35,000 women. This, he argued, serves as a glaring example of unfulfilled promises that have eroded public trust.
Allegations of Financial Mismanagement and Corruption
Raising serious concerns over the state's financial and administrative functioning, Thakur alleged that Himachal Pradesh is "being put on sale" through the leasing of properties belonging to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC). He further accused the government of rampant corruption, deteriorating law and order, a lack of new recruitments, and the closure of over 1,000 institutions. Additionally, Thakur flagged delays in payments under the Himcare health scheme, asserting that governance has effectively stalled under the Congress administration.
Despite what he described as liberal financial assistance from the Centre, Thakur claimed that the state government has failed to acknowledge this support. He mentioned personally meeting Union ministers, including the Finance Minister and the Home Minister, to seek additional financial aid for Himachal Pradesh. Criticising recent administrative measures, he dismissed the decision to strip advisors and heads of boards and corporations of cabinet rank as merely cosmetic, arguing that meaningful reform would require their complete removal from posts.
Defense from Congress MLAs and Chief Minister Sukhu
Earlier in the debate, Bhoranj MLA Suresh Kumar presented a contrasting perspective, stating that despite facing severe financial stress and natural disasters, the Congress government has ensured balanced and uniform development across the state. He also alleged attempts at political destabilisation of the government, terming it a "political disaster" alongside natural calamities.
Theog MLA Kuldeep Rathore emphasised that the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) is not a political entitlement but a right of the people of Himachal Pradesh. He argued that the state is grappling with a severe financial crunch following the end of GST compensation and restrictions on borrowing, making RDG support crucial for sustaining development efforts.
Sukhu Highlights Unprecedented Halt in Revenue Deficit Grant
Intervening in the debate, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made a significant point regarding the Revenue Deficit Grant. He stated that under Article 275, no Union Government in the past 77 years had discontinued the RDG to any state, which is designed to bridge the gap between revenue and expenditure. Sukhu noted that when the BJP assumed power in Himachal Pradesh in 2017, the state had a loan burden of Rs 48,000 crore and received Rs 70,000 crore through RDG and GST compensation. According to him, even a partial repayment of Rs 20,000 crore during that period could have significantly improved the state's financial health.
Sukhu maintained that RDG is not the right of any political party but of the 75 lakh people of Himachal Pradesh. He added that the government is willing to approach the Prime Minister jointly with BJP leaders to seek restoration of RDG, but lamented that the Opposition did not extend support for this initiative. This exchange underscores the deep political divisions and ongoing challenges in managing the state's finances and development agenda.
