Shimla
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh has criticized Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda for making baseless allegations against the state government and the Congress Party during his recent visit to Bilaspur district.
He said that it is quite amusing that despite ignoring the interests of Himachal Pradesh over the past few years, Nadda is suddenly showing deep concern for the state. He is making unnecessary statements over the financial crisis in the state, but perhaps has forgotten the financial mismanagement of the previous BJP government. When the present Congress government came into office, Himachal Pradesh was already burdened with a massive debt of Rs. 75,000 crore. On top of this, there were additional liabilities of Rs. 10,000 crore as pending dues of the government employees. Yet, these same BJP leaders now have the audacity to judge on financial management. Instead of spreading fear and misinformation, they should take a moment to reflect on their own disastrous handling of the economy of the state.
He said that the BJP leaders are spreading lies about the mismanagement of the Central Fund by presenting fake reports. The fact is that the Center is blocking the grants that rightfully belong to Himachal. Nadda’s claim that the Congress government is functioning as “Ram Bharose” is nothing but a political drama to hide the BJP’s failures. The truth is that BJP leaders conveniently ignore the step motherly treatment of the Central Government towards Himachal.
He further pointed out that the revenue deficit grant, which was 10,249 crore during the previous BJP government, is being continuously reduced. For the next financial year, it has been slashed to just Rs. 3,257 crore. This means that nearly Rs. 7,000 crore meant for the development of the state has been cut. The BJP leaders who boast about supporting Himachal should explain why they are silently watching as the Centre withdraws crucial financial assistance from the state.
He said that BJP leaders keep talking about financial mismanagement, but conveniently forget that it was their own government that pushed the state into a financial crisis. Meanwhile, under Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Himachal has become the first state in India to implement Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milk, giving dairy farmers economic stability. The Congress government has also cleared Rs. 153 crore in pending dues for apple growers under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) something the BJP government never cared to do.
He added that Himachal Pradesh was not given any compensation for huge losses during natural calamity whereas BJP-ruled states got direct disaster relief. The state government released a relief package of Rs. 4500 crore from its own resources to help the disaster-affected families. Despite requests made by the state government and recommendations of the central team, not even a single penny has been released to the state till now.
Hailing from Himachal Pradesh being a senior Minister and National BJP President, Shri Nadda failed to take up major issues of the state. He has done absolutely nothing to secure financial support for the state and merely for political gains ignoring the rights of his own people. Instead of giving sermons and misleading the people of state, he should explain why the Centre has been cutting Himachal’s revenue deficit grant.
