Deputy CM hits back at Jai Ram over HRTC’s weak fiscal health

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who also holds charge of the Transport Department, today lashed out at Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur over the latter’s remarks that salaries and pensions to the employees of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) were being delayed.

In a press release, Agnihotri said the Leader of Opposition should have addressed the financial health of the HRTC while he was the Chief Minister rather than blaming the present government. He said during the 60 months of the Jai Ram Thakur government, the HRTC pensioners received their dues in time only on three occasions. He pointed out that during the BJP rule, pension to the former employees for January 2018 was delayed by 53 days, in March 2020 by 35 days, in March 2021 by 42 days and in May 2021 by 33 days.

The Deputy CM said the salary and pension payment status of the HRTC employees during the present government is up to date, adding that efforts are being made to improve the corporation. He said the HRTC has begun earning an additional sum of Rs 65 to 70 crore per year.

The Deputy CM charged that question papers for the exams conducted by the HP Subordinate Services Selection Board had leaked several times during the tenure of Jai Ram Thakur, leading to suspension of many results. He said the present government had constituted a Vidhan Sabha Sub-Committee, under his chairmanship, to examine the issue. He added that the committee report has been submitted to the government for approval of the Cabinet.

Reacting to Jai Ram’s remarks regarding the financial crisis in the state, Agnihotri said when Himachal Pradesh came into existence it was clear that sources of income for the small hill state will be very limited and the financial assistance of the Union Government will be needed to run the affairs of the state, but under the present scenario, the state is not getting financial assistance from the Centre, let alone its dues.

He said the Congress government is undoing the financial mess created by the previous BJP government.