Una
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, branding it “anti-Himachal” and accusing it of failing to safeguard the state’s interests before the Centre on key financial and disaster-related issues.
Addressing a press conference in Una, Sukhu questioned why BJP leaders did not stand with the state government on crucial matters such as the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) and disaster relief. He also asked why the opposition failed to accompany the government to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi when Himachal was seeking its rightful dues.
The Chief Minister alleged that during the BJP’s tenure, the state was burdened with a debt of ₹76,633 crore and accused the previous government of distributing nearly ₹5,000 crore in “freebies” ahead of elections, weakening fiscal discipline. He claimed that despite receiving around ₹60,000 crore more from the Centre, the BJP failed to utilise the funds effectively, pushing the state deeper into debt.
Sukhu asserted that if the resources had been used properly, Himachal Pradesh could have been debt-free. He further alleged that BJP policies had consistently been against the state’s interests and lacked focus on public welfare.
Highlighting the Congress government’s performance over the past 40 months, he said the administration had prioritised “Vyavastha Parivartan”, introduced policy reforms, enacted new laws and curbed corruption, yielding positive results on the ground.
He accused the BJP of attempting to regain power through “social media manipulation” and spreading misinformation against the government. In contrast, he said, the state government had rolled out several welfare initiatives, including ₹1,500 monthly assistance for women from one lakh underprivileged families, free electricity up to 300 units and pensions for women above 59 years.
The Chief Minister said minimum support prices for wheat, maize and turmeric had been increased to promote natural farming and enhance farmers’ incomes. He reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency, good governance and making the state self-reliant.
On education, Sukhu claimed Himachal has improved from 21st position during BJP rule to fifth place nationally, adding that the introduction of the CBSE pattern in government schools has expanded opportunities for students.
Highlighting industrial growth, he termed the Bulk Drug Park project in Una a “game changer”, expected to generate over 10,000 jobs. He also said efforts were underway to establish Una as a solar energy hub, including projects in Pekhubela and other parts of the state.
In the health sector, he said the government was strengthening hospitals with modern equipment and specialist doctors to improve services for the poor and needy.
Referring to the natural disasters of 2023 and 2025, Sukhu said the state government had announced relief packages on its own, while BJP leaders failed to secure additional assistance from the Centre. He added that Himachal is still awaiting the ₹1,500 crore relief package announced by the Prime Minister.
The Chief Minister also claimed that discontinuation of the RDG has resulted in a loss of around ₹50,000 crore to the state, asserting that the amount is Himachal’s right, not charity.
Taking a swipe at the opposition, Sukhu said the BJP is grappling with internal factionalism and is divided into multiple groups. He alleged that Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur is under pressure to retain his position and continues to target the Congress government to remain in the spotlight.
