Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday dismissed the Congress government's allegations that the Centre was discriminating against Himachal Pradesh. He asserted that the Narendra Modi-led government has consistently provided substantial financial assistance to the state across key sectors, including roads, railways, health, education, and power.
Central Allocations Highlighted
Nadda highlighted various central allocations made to Himachal during the financial year 2024-25. He said the state received Rs 2,381 crore as Special Assistance, Rs 2,006 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund, and Rs 2,150 crore under externally aided projects.
“The Centre has never shied away from supporting Himachal. However, poor fiscal discipline on the part of the state government has pushed the state into a debt trap, with liabilities now exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore,” he alleged.
Rejection of Fiscal Bias
The minister's remarks came in response to the state government's charge that the Centre was biased in its financial allocations. Nadda provided a detailed breakdown of central funds to counter these claims, emphasizing the Modi government's commitment to the state's development.
He also pointed out that the state's mounting debt was a result of its own financial mismanagement rather than any lack of central support. The Union Minister urged the state government to improve its fiscal discipline to avoid further economic strain.
