The Leader of the Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, Jairam Thakur, launched a sharp critique against the state's Congress government on Saturday, accusing it of crippling the state with an overwhelming financial burden through excessive borrowing and repeated tax increases.
Unprecedented Debt and Broken Promises
Thakur asserted that the administration, which came to power on the back of what he termed "false guarantees" and promises of positive change, has instead focused on excessive borrowing. He revealed a startling figure, claiming that in just 35 months, the government has taken loans amounting to over Rs 40,000 crore.
Simultaneously, he alleged, the government has been shutting down various public welfare schemes that were initiated by the previous BJP government. The financial strain on citizens has been compounded by multiple hikes in fees for essential public services and the introduction of new taxes.
Increased Burden on Disaster-Affected Families
The senior BJP leader highlighted a specific tax policy that he argued is directly harming families recovering from natural disasters. He pointed out that despite a reduction in the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the state government increased the additional goods tax on cement.
"This move has made the process of rebuilding homes and lives significantly harder and more expensive for those already devastated by calamities," Thakur stated, emphasizing the practical difficulties faced by the people.
Misplaced Priorities: Celebrations Over Compensation
Thakur also directed his criticism towards the government's upcoming three-year anniversary celebration, scheduled for December 11 in Mandi. He alleged that the state is diverting valuable resources and departmental staff for the event's preparations.
Expressing outrage, he claimed that the expenses for these celebrations are being borne by the revenue department. This is the same department that, according to him, has not yet finished disbursing compensation to all disaster victims and has even failed to complete the assessment of losses for numerous affected families.
"Spending crores of rupees on lavish celebrations while a significant number of people remain homeless and uncompensated reflects the state government's severely misplaced priorities," Thakur condemned.
A Word on RSS
Concluding his address, the Leader of the Opposition issued a stern warning regarding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He stated that no disrespect shown by the state government towards the organization would be tolerated.
He defended the RSS, describing it as one of the world's most respected service organizations due to its long-standing and significant contributions in the fields of education, healthcare, disaster relief, and social harmony.
