Shimla, February 3:
Rajeev Bindal, State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Tuesday asserted that the Union Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made “excellent and historic provisions” for Himachal Pradesh in the latest Union Budget, accusing the Congress-led state government of misleading the public with “false narratives and distorted figures.”
Addressing the media in Shimla, Dr. Bindal said Himachal Pradesh has been allocated nearly ₹14,000 crore under tax devolution this year—around ₹2,500 crore more than the previous budget. He termed it a significant step that would directly benefit the people of the state.
₹3,000 Crore for Railways, ₹40,000 Crore for Four-Lane Projects
Highlighting infrastructure expansion, Dr. Bindal stated that approximately ₹3,000 crore has been approved for railway development in the state. In addition, around 2,700 kilometres of four-lane highways are being constructed in Himachal through central funding, with projects worth nearly ₹40,000 crore currently underway.
He further said that about ₹10,000 crore has been earmarked for road development under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Central Road Fund (CRF), and Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Separate allocations have also been made for the health and education sectors.
According to Dr. Bindal, Himachal received special central assistance of around ₹8,000 crore between 2020 and 2026, including ₹1,200 crore released last year.
Congress Government Accused of Inaction
Taking a dig at the state government, Dr. Bindal alleged that the Congress administration has stalled development works for over three years and is now blaming the Centre for its own shortcomings. He criticized what he termed a “new narrative” of demanding ₹50,000 crore without accountability.
He questioned the utilization of nearly ₹6,000 crore received during disaster relief, asking where the funds were spent. He also raised concerns about housing allocations and implementation of welfare schemes.
Focus on Rural Development and Employment
Dr. Bindal said substantial provisions have been made in the Union Budget for rural development, Panchayati Raj, urban development, and employment schemes, including enhanced allocations for MNREGA and clearing of past liabilities. However, he alleged that the state government has not been contributing its required share in certain centrally sponsored schemes.
He also highlighted the Centre’s announcement to develop Himachal as a pharmaceutical hub, calling it a major opportunity for industrial growth and employment. Referring to the Bulk Drug Park proposal, he claimed that while the Centre extended support, the state government failed to fully capitalize on the opportunity.
Dr. Bindal concluded by stating that continuous central assistance is being extended for Himachal’s growth and accused the Congress government of adopting a negative approach instead of working collaboratively for the state’s development.
