Synopsis
The Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur, criticized the state Budget for being disappointing and lacking vision, marking the first time in history that the Budget size remains unchanged. He highlighted concerns over infrastructure spending and the reliance on Central government schemes.Key Takeaways
- First unchanged Budget size in Himachal Pradesh history.
- Budget criticized for lack of major schemes and transparency.
- Only 24% of funds allocated for infrastructure development.
- Opposition cites lost trust in government.
- Former minister calls the Budget a box of empty promises.
Shimla, March 17 (NationPress) Himachal Pradesh's Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur criticized the state’s Budget, calling it disappointing and lacking a clear vision. Notably, for the first time in the state's history, there was no increase in the Budget size.
“This Budget allocates some funds for infrastructure development, yet fails to mention any significant schemes. Traditionally, when the Budget is presented, the government highlights its plans, achievements, and the challenges ahead. However, this year's budget appears to obscure the truth and takes credit for initiatives from the Central government,” Thakur stated.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu unveiled a populist yet deficit budget amounting to Rs 58,514 crore for the upcoming fiscal year, aiming to enhance the agrarian economy, healthcare, job creation, and eco-tourism.
Thakur criticized the budget, highlighting that “this is the first time that the Budget has only increased by Rs 71 crore, which is just 0.12 percent compared to the last Budget. Moreover, only 24 percent of the total will be allocated to infrastructure development. In prior years, the spending on development projects out of every Rs 100 was Rs 39, Rs 41.22, Rs 43.94, and Rs 38. Now, only Rs 24 remains for other initiatives, indicating that development is still not a priority.
The Leader of Opposition expressed that trust in the government has diminished. “The government appears to be adept at deception. The Budget attempts to present matters in a convoluted manner. It has not disclosed that development work will solely rely on schemes run by the Central government. There is no comprehensive plan for state development, and many prior announcements remain unaddressed,” he remarked.
Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament Anurag Singh joined in, labeling the Budget as directionless and a collection of empty promises.
“The Chief Minister has merely fulfilled formalities regarding the Budget. He should clarify how funds will be sourced to honor these promises after declaring an economic emergency in the state,” Anurag Thakur added.
He concluded by stating, “Today, by presenting this Budget, the Congress government has yet again deceived the residents of Himachal. The Congress administration appears to be evading its responsibilities, leaving Himachal entirely dependent on the Central government.
