Himachal CM Sukhu targets Jai Ram over debt burden, RDG use
Says Himachal inherited Rs 76,680-crore debt despite RS 70,000-crore Central support
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, accusing the previous BJP government of misusing state resources and failing to prudently utilise the massive Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) received from the Centre.
Speaking to mediapersons after returning from Delhi, Sukhu said his government had inherited a staggering debt burden of Rs 76,680 crore despite what he termed “liberal financial assistance” from the Centre during the BJP regime. He pointed out that when Jai Ram Thakur assumed office, the state’s debt stood at Rs 46,000 crore, but by the end of his tenure, loans had risen by another Rs 45,000 crore.
According to Sukhu, the previous government received nearly Rs 54,000 crore as RDG and an additional Rs 16,000 crore as GST compensation cess, amounting to about Rs 70,000 crore in Central support. “A portion of this amount could have been used to reduce the state’s mounting debt. Instead, the liability increased substantially,” he said.
Drawing a comparison between the two administrations, Sukhu said his government had received only Rs 17,000 crore as RDG but had focused on fiscal discipline and clearing pending dues. He claimed that the Congress-led government had cleared arrears of employees above 70 years of age, while the previous regime left behind arrears amounting to nearly Rs 10,000 crore.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the possible discontinuation of RDG for Himachal Pradesh, stressing that the grant was crucial for a hill state with limited revenue-generating capacity and a significant gap between income and expenditure. He alleged that the BJP was not cooperating in seeking continuation of the grant from the Centre.
Sukhu said that while Jai Ram Thakur had earlier pleaded Himachal’s case before both the 15th and 16th Finance Commissions, he was now reluctant to support the state’s demand. “The RDG is not for any political party. It is meant for the people of Himachal,” he asserted.
He added that he had apprised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi about the serious financial implications of discontinuing the grant. Although he could not meet the Union Finance Minister during his Delhi visit as she was out of station, Sukhu said his government would soon chalk out a strategy to secure the state’s interests.
On a separate issue, the Chief Minister condemned a Delhi Police raid at Himachal Sadan in the national capital, terming it “unfortunate” and alleging it was conducted without a warrant while he was staying there. He maintained that facilitating bookings for Youth Congress workers, journalists and common citizens was not improper. He also criticised the arrest of protesters, saying that peaceful demonstrations were part of democratic traditions and should not be met with harsh action.
