Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani launched a sharp counterattack on Opposition Leader Jai Ram Thakur, stating that the BJP’s real stand on RDG has now been exposed to the people of the state. They said that the same BJP leaders who are opposing RDG today had earlier forcefully argued before the 15th and 16th Finance Commissions that Himachal Pradesh deserved the grant, citing its limited financial resources and challenging geographical conditions.
The ministers questioned why Jai Ram Thakur’s position appears to have changed within a matter of months. They asked him to clarify to the people why he and his party now seem to be acting against the interests of Himachal Pradesh. In their view, the BJP has become so focused on opposing the Congress government that it has lost sight of the state’s welfare.
They further criticized BJP leaders for portraying funds received under central government schemes as financial aid, arguing that such funds are the rightful entitlement of the state’s people and not special favors. The ministers said these explanations are unconvincing and will not be accepted by the public.
The Congress leaders also noted that the BJP has yet to clearly state its position on RDG. They said the people of Himachal Pradesh deserve to know whether the BJP supports discontinuing the grant. According to them, RDG is a constitutional entitlement under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.
They highlighted that during Jai Ram Thakur’s tenure as Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh received Rs. 56,000 crore in RDG, in addition to Rs.14,000 crore in GST compensation, without any objection from the BJP at the time. They questioned why the grant is now being opposed, asking whether the change in stance is simply because a Congress government is currently in power.
Sh. Chauhan and Sh. Dharmani also alleged that during the recent Assembly session, the BJP exposed its true position by opposing a government resolution brought under Rule 102 seeking the restoration of RDG for the state. They added that BJP MLAs had previously failed to support a resolution calling for special financial assistance for those affected by natural disasters.
The Ministers said that the people of Himachal Pradesh can clearly see that the BJP has not stood up for the rights of the state and was busy conspiring against their own people.
