Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss key issues concerning the state, with a particular focus on the state’s financial condition.
Thakur said he raised several concerns impacting the hill state and criticised the government’s decision to impose a cess of up to ₹5 on petrol and diesel, describing it as an unfair burden on the public. He also remarked that funding government functioning through collections made in the name of welfare groups such as widows and orphans was inappropriate.
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Emphasising the seriousness of the fiscal situation, the former Chief Minister said that any move to defer salaries of the Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs, and officials—even temporarily—would signal a condition akin to a financial emergency. Drawing a comparison with the Covid-19 period, he referred to salary cuts implemented in Andhra Pradesh, which were later struck down by the Supreme Court.
While acknowledging the financial challenges faced by Himachal Pradesh, Thakur said the Opposition would support necessary corrective steps. However, he stressed the importance of reducing wasteful expenditure and exploring sustainable avenues for resource mobilisation to stabilise the state’s finances.
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