Shimla, April 12 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, launched a pointed critique of the state BJP on Sunday, labeling it as ‘anti-Himachal’. He raised concerns regarding the party’s failure to support the state in front of the Centre on vital matters such as the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) and necessary disaster relief.

Sukhu questioned the absence of BJP leaders during crucial meetings with the Prime Minister while the state was advocating for its legitimate entitlements. Speaking to reporters in Una, he highlighted the burden of a debt amounting to Rs 76,633 crore that Himachal Pradesh incurred during the BJP’s governance.

The CM criticized the previous administration for distributing nearly Rs 5,000 crore as 'freebies' during election campaigns, which he believes undermined fiscal discipline. Although the BJP received significantly more funds—around Rs 60,000 crore—from the Centre compared to the current government, Sukhu claimed these resources were not effectively utilized.

He asserted that the misallocation of these funds has exacerbated the state’s financial burdens. Had these funds been managed appropriately, he contended, Himachal could have achieved a debt-free status today.

According to Sukhu, the BJP’s policies have consistently undermined the state’s interests without prioritizing public welfare. In contrast, his government has concentrated on ‘Vyavastha Parivartan’ over the past 40 months, focusing on public service, implementing policy reforms, instituting new laws, and combating corruption, all of which are yielding positive outcomes.

The Chief Minister remarked that the citizens of Himachal Pradesh are now discerning the reality: the BJP is resorting to social media tactics to undermine the current government with false narratives.

Under the Congress administration, several welfare initiatives have been launched, such as providing monthly financial aid of Rs 1,500 to women from one lakh underprivileged families, offering free electricity up to 300 units, and extending pensions to women over 59 years of age.

To promote natural farming, the government has raised the minimum support prices for wheat, maize, and turmeric, thus enhancing farmers' incomes. Sukhu emphasized the government's commitment to transparency, good governance, and striving for a self-reliant state.

He further noted that the cessation of the Revenue Deficit Grant has resulted in a loss of approximately Rs 50,000 crore for the state, asserting that this amount is a rightful claim, not an act of charity.