Mandi, September 26 (Daily Kiran) : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhu, addressing a large gathering in the Balh assembly constituency on Saturday, launched a fierce critique of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. He claimed that its “double-engine” model led the state into a debt trap and resulted in the mismanagement of resources.
During his speech, Sukhu pointed out that the state received nearly ₹60,000 crore through Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation and Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) during the BJP’s tenure, but these funds were not utilized effectively.
He highlighted that the Congress government, which took office about 45 months ago, has prioritized the needs of ordinary families. In its first cabinet meeting, the administration reinstated the old pension scheme for employees. However, Sukhu noted that this decision led the central government to withhold approximately ₹1,600 crore in financial assistance to Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the Congress government, including natural disasters and political hurdles. He stated that the state has managed to rebuild around 23,000 damaged homes using its resources during these crises. With public support and blessings from local deities, he claimed that the number of Congress legislators has returned to 40.
Sukhu reiterated his government’s commitment to making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant, curbing corruption, and ensuring citizens receive their rightful entitlements. He emphasized the introduction of financial benefits for employees and pensioners, along with welfare measures for orphaned children and widows.
Referring to the Kishau Multipurpose Project, Sukhu asserted that his government has safeguarded the state’s interests. He warned that under the BJP, residents could have faced an additional burden of ₹3,000 crore. He claimed that this project could generate annual revenues of ₹1,200 crore to ₹1,500 crore in the future, saving Himachal Pradesh significant costs.
Sukhu also discussed advancements in the dairy sector, noting that while milk was purchased at ₹32 per liter during the BJP’s rule, the current government has raised the price to ₹61 for cow’s milk and ₹71 for buffalo’s milk. He assured that further increases would follow.
Additionally, the Chief Minister announced changes to the eligibility criteria for the Sukhi Parivar scheme. The mandatory requirement for one day of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will be removed, and the family income limit will be raised from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000. Furthermore, he declared that all eligible women over the age of 21 would receive a monthly pension of ₹1,500.
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