Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday stated that instead of blaming him, BJP leaders should meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek the reinstatement of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG).
“I have repeatedly appealed for a united stand on this issue, but I know they (BJP leaders) will never do so,” Sukhu said.
Withdrawal of the revenue deficit grant (RDG) would cost the state around Rs 10,000 crore every year between 2026 and 2031, Sukhu said. He added that he has many times urged BJP leaders to take a united stand, but he doubts their willingness to cooperate.
“Instead of targeting me, the BJP leaders should approach the prime minister for the reinstatement of the revenue deficit grant. I have appealed to the BJP leaders many times to come forward, but I know they will never do so,” Sukhu told reporters after returning from Delhi.
Sharing details of his meeting with former finance minister P Chidambaram in Delhi, Sukhu said he briefed the senior Congress leader on the state’s stand on the 16th Finance Commission report and its likely impact on the hill state.
Sukhu also discussed the financial condition inherited from the previous BJP government, including a debt burden of Rs 75,000 crore and pending liabilities of Rs 10,000 crore related to salary and pension arrears.
Sukhu said that despite these challenges, strict anti-corruption measures and system reforms by the present government have helped generate an additional revenue of Rs 3,800 crore over the past three years.
Chidambaram said the RDG is a constitutional provision under Article 275(1) meant to balance the revenue and expenditure of states. He added that while recommending its withdrawal for 17 states, the interests of hilly and small states must be protected, according to a statement from the chief minister’s office.
The Chief Minister said that despite the difficulties, the state has moved towards self-reliance and carried out several economic reforms.
During the previous BJP government, the state received RDG worth Rs 54,296 crore, while the current government has received only Rs 17,563 crore over the past three years, Sukhu said.
In addition, he said, the BJP government also received Rs 16,000 crore as GST compensation and Rs 11,431 crore as interim grant in 2020-21.
“In the five years of BJP rule, they received nearly Rs 70,000 crore. Had they repaid Rs 40,000 crore of loans, the state would not have fallen into a debt trap,” he claimed.
“Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur should explain to the people where this Rs 70,000 crore was spent and who benefited from it,” Sukhu said. He also said that the government will not abolish any posts and will instead create employment opportunities for the youth.
“Despite receiving minimal grants from the Centre, the arrears of pension have been cleared. The arrears of gratuity and leave encashment arising from the revision of pension and related benefits of Class-IV employees, who retired between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021, have also been disbursed, which is a clear example of our fiscal prudence,” Sukhu said.
“The government has also reduced officer-level posts while increasing lower-level positions to improve administrative efficiency,” he added.
Also Read: Sukhu govt bankrupting state with ‘false guarantees’: BJP chief
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