Promise of 300 Units of Free Electricity Remains Unfulfilled; Even the Earlier 125-Unit Relief Was Curtailed
Shimla, November 14
Senior BJP leader, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during a press conference in Shimla, alleging that the Congress secured public support in the 2022 Assembly elections by making false guarantees at every street corner and public gathering.
He said that nearly four years of the government’s tenure have passed, but the Congress leadership failed to fulfil its promises. Now, after what he described as the Congress party’s defeat in the Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections, the Chief Minister has suddenly remembered the women of Himachal Pradesh and the guarantees made before the Assembly elections.
Thakur questioned why only a limited number of families were being included under the government’s proposed *Sukhi Parivar* initiative when Himachal Pradesh has more than 18 lakh families.
**”When Himachal Pradesh has over 18 lakh families, why are only a select few being considered part of the Chief Minister’s ‘Sukhi Parivar’? Does the Chief Minister not consider the remaining families his own?”** he asked.
Jairam Thakur said that the Congress had promised ₹1,500 per month to all women aged 18 to 59 years, beginning with a decision in its very first Cabinet meeting. At that time, no income limit or eligibility restrictions were mentioned.
He claimed that approximately 28 lakh women fall within this age group in Himachal Pradesh. Calculated over 48 months, each woman would have been entitled to ₹72,000 under the original promise, amounting to approximately ₹20,000 crore in total.
However, he said, the government has now announced the benefit for only 3.50 lakh eligible women.
**”The Chief Minister must explain what fault lies with the remaining 24.50 lakh women. You promised the benefit to all women, but have now imposed more than ten conditions to exclude the majority. If you cannot fulfil your guarantee, you should apologise to the mothers and sisters of Himachal Pradesh,”** Thakur said.
He further pointed out that providing ₹1,500 per month to even 3.50 lakh women would require approximately ₹630 crore annually.
Thakur alleged that there was no clear budgetary provision for this expenditure in the current financial year.
He claimed that the combined budget for social security and the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities stood at only ₹604 crore. He further alleged that the Sukhu government had reduced the social welfare budget by 62 percent compared with the previous year.
He questioned how the government intended to finance the newly announced scheme and under which budget head the payments would be made.
Congress Promised 300 Units of Free Electricity but Curtailed the Earlier 125-Unit Relief
Targeting the Congress government over its guarantee of 300 units of free electricity, Jairam Thakur said that the previous BJP government had introduced 125 units of free electricity after assessing the average consumption of ordinary and middle-class households.
He said that the Congress promised 300 units of free electricity to households before the 2022 Assembly elections but failed to fulfil the commitment during nearly four years in office.
Instead, he alleged, the government introduced eligibility restrictions that curtailed the benefits available under the earlier 125-unit free electricity scheme.
Now, he said, the government is announcing 300 units of free electricity for a limited number of eligible families while presenting it as the fulfilment of its original guarantee.
**”There are more than 18 lakh families in Himachal Pradesh. The Congress promised 300 units of free electricity to every household. Why is the government now restricting eligibility to a limited number of families?”** Thakur asked.
### Five Lakh Jobs, Milk Procurement and Cow Dung Purchase Guarantees Remain Under Question
Jairam Thakur also criticised the government over its election promises of five lakh employment opportunities, one lakh jobs in the first year, milk procurement and cow dung purchase.
He alleged that dairy farmers were facing serious difficulties because payments for milk procurement had remained pending for four to six months.
He further claimed that instructions to procure milk only five days a week had created additional problems for dairy producers.
According to Thakur, many farmers were not receiving more than ₹49 per litre for their milk.
He said that the government must account for the progress made on each of its major election guarantees.
### Growing Dissatisfaction Within Congress
Referring to reports of dissatisfaction within the ruling Congress party, Jairam Thakur mentioned a Congress MLA who had reportedly set a December 11 deadline for his induction into the Cabinet.
He said that the development raised questions about the Chief Minister’s commitments not only to the people of Himachal Pradesh but also to members of his own party.
### BJP to Raise Corruption, Drug Abuse and Deteriorating Roads in Assembly
The Leader of Opposition said that the BJP would raise several important issues during the upcoming Winter Session of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
These would include allegations of corruption, private management of government properties, increasing drug abuse, the law-and-order situation and the deteriorating condition of roads across the state.
Thakur alleged that while the Chief Minister continued to travel by helicopter, people in several parts of Himachal Pradesh were facing serious difficulties because of damaged and poorly maintained roads.
He said that the government should assess the condition of roads through ground visits rather than relying only on official reports.
