₹4,000 crore cut, ‘broken guarantees’ and lack of vision — BJP slams Sukhu govt
Shimla
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Himachal Pradesh government over the 2026–27 state budget, terming it a “back gear budget” that will push the state’s development backwards.
State BJP president Dr. Rajeev Bindal alleged that the budget presented by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reflects a significant decline in financial allocation and lacks any concrete roadmap for growth.
Bindal claimed that a reduction of nearly ₹4,000 crore compared to the previous budget would adversely impact development works across sectors. “Never before in the state’s history has such a budget been presented with such a drastic cut. It will directly slow down infrastructure and welfare initiatives,” he said.
He further accused the Congress government of “repackaging” centrally sponsored schemes in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry to inflate budget figures, while failing to introduce meaningful state-driven initiatives.
Criticising the state government’s approach towards the Centre, Bindal said that despite repeatedly targeting the Narendra Modi-led government, Himachal’s development continues to depend largely on central schemes. “The reality is that ongoing development is driven by central support, not state innovation,” he added.
The BJP leader also termed the Congress party’s 2022 election guarantees as “the biggest betrayal,” alleging that none of the major promises have been fulfilled so far. He pointed out that the promise of providing one lakh government jobs remains unfulfilled, while the assurance of ₹1,500 per month to 28 lakh women has not been implemented even after over three years.
He also criticised the revision in milk procurement rates, claiming that the earlier promise of ₹100 per litre has been reduced to ₹60, misleading farmers.
Calling the budget a “cruel joke” on youth, farmers and women, Bindal said it fails to address key issues such as law and order, alleged rise in mafia activities, shortage of medicines in hospitals and reopening of closed institutions.
Instead, he alleged, the government is moving towards shutting down more institutions, which he described as a betrayal of public trust.
“The budget is nothing more than a bundle of hollow figures with no clear direction or relief for the people,” Bindal said, adding that the BJP will continue to oppose what it called an anti-people budget and raise these concerns across all platforms.
