CM announces Rs 3-lakh aid for Suraj’s family

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 12

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today announced grant of Rs 3 lakh for Suraj, a Nepalese labour and an accused in Gudiya rape case, who died in police custody, on the floor of the house. The Chief Minister made this announcement while replying to a motion of thanks on Governor’s address.

The CM said that grant has been announced as the family of Suraj was very poor and they had suffered due to the death of the sole bread earner of the family.

Responding to Congress allegation that his government was being run through remote control by the RSS, the Chief Minister said he was fit and had steering wheels as well as breaks in his control.

Replying to the attack of the Opposition on the government and the CM, Jai Ram asked the treasury benches to have patience. “Our government was just 15 days old and would address all the issues related to the state” he said.

Responding to allegations of Congress leaders regarding very short Governor’s address, the CM said, “Had it been long it would have touched what the previous Congress government had done to the state. However, since it was the first session we wanted to make a fresh start and avoid contentious issues”.

To the Congress allegation that the present government was cribbing about financial crises, the CM said that it was important for the people of state to know what the previous government had done with finances of the state.

He said that on March 31, 2008 the financial burden on the state was Rs 21,241 crore. On March 31, 2012, it increased to Rs 28,650 crores. It means that the previous BJP government from 2007-2012 raised loan of Rs 7,621 crores. However, now the financial burden on the state was Rs 46,500 crores. It means in the last five years the previous Congress government raised loan of about Rs 18,000 crores. This despite the fact that union government, through 14 finance commissions, had increased financial allotment to state to Rs 72,000 crores, he said.

On certain statements from members of the Opposition that he was not a projected CM, Jai Ram Thakur said that the BJP president during a rally organized in his constituency had announced him as a deputy CM. He said that even in Congress the projected CLP leader was someone else and some other person was occupying the chair.

He said many people were having objection to him being called a youth. To this Virbhadra Singh got up from his said that he was also young.

The Chief Minister said that he would try come up to the expectations of the people of state who have given heavy mandate in favour of the BJP. The previous Congress government just laid foundation stones with an eye on votes. However, the people cannot be fooled now as the times have changed. Every government has to perform at the ground level to get votes now, he said.

He also said that the unemployment allowance was given to just 19,000 youth in the state by the previous government with an eye on election. The government would strive to provide employment to youth as unemployment allowance was of no used to them, the CM said.

The said that the government has decided to open gaushalas for clusters of villages to tackle the problem of stray cattle.

Jai Ram Thakur also alleged that Rs 75 lakh worth of CM’s relief fund was spent by previous government during the period of election code of conduct without the permission of the Election Commission. The previous government left just Rs 2 lakh in CM relief fund.

The CM also indicated that some schools and colleges opened by previous government in the last six months of its stint in power might be rationalised.

On financial mess

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said it was important for the people to know what the previous government had done with finances
• On March 31, 2008, the financial burden on the state was Rs 21,241 crore
• On March 31, 2012, it increased to Rs 28,650 crore, implying that the previous BJP government from 2007-2012 raised loan of Rs 7,621 crore 
• However, now the financial burden on the state was Rs 46,500 crore which means that in the last five years, the previous Congress government raised loan of about  Rs 18,000 crores