Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and various public welfare initiatives, despite the Central government’s withdrawal of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG).
Talking to the mediapersons before leaving for Delhi to attend a Congress meeting, the Chief Minister emphasised that the government would continue these schemes by mobilising its own resources, ensuring that people’s rightful entitlements remain protected under all circumstances.
Refuting the Opposition’s claims, the Chief Minister said had the BJP been in power, it would have replaced the OPS with the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), effectively ending the security currently enjoyed by government employees. Drawing from his own background in a common family, he expressed a deep understanding of the concerns of ordinary citizens and would never compromise on their interests. He noted that while the Finance Department manages fiscal matters, the government’s priority is to strengthen resources to drive the state’s growth.
Sukhu accused the previous BJP government led by Jai Ram Thakur of gross financial mismanagement between 2018 and 2021. He pointed out that during its five-year tenure, the previous government received Rs 54,000 crore as RDG and Rs 16,000 crore as GST compensation. He alleged that these funds were misused to benefit contractors. He also cited the spending of nearly Rs 1,000 crore on the construction of buildings that currently lie vacant and underutilised.
In contrast, Chief Minister said the present government has received only Rs 17,000 crore in RDG over the last three years, but has successfully maintained strict financial discipline. He reported that the state government had generated Rs 26,683 crore from its own resources and plans to implement further stringent measures to bolster the economy. He urged the BJP to support the state’s fight for its rights before the Centre instead of misleading the public.
Stressing that the interests of the state must transcend party lines, he urged the BJP to support the state’s pursuit of its rights before the Central Government rather than deceiving the public.
Addressing the critical nature of the Revenue Deficit Grant, which is provided under Article 275(1) of the Constitution to bridge the revenue-expenditure gap, the Chief Minister warned that the annual loss of Rs 10,000 crore would severely constrain the budget of a small hilly state like Himachal Pradesh. He characterised the withdrawal of the grant as "step-motherly treatment" by the Centre, asserting that Himachal Pradesh, by its geographical and economic nature, remained a revenue-deficit state. He declared his resolve to meet with the Prime Minister to seek the restoration of the RDG, describing himself as a "warrior" ready to fight for the state's legitimate share on every platform.
The Chief Minister dismissed claims made by the Leader of the Opposition regarding the lack of a formal invitation to a financial briefing. By producing copies of personal letters sent to Jai Ram Thakur and other BJP MLAs, he clarified that they were invited to discuss the financial impact of the RDG discontinuation. He criticised the BJP for willfully abstaining from the meeting and called on all stakeholders to rise above political affiliations to collectively advocate for the welfare of the people of Himachal Pradesh.
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