To get central funding state’s right, Centre not doing favour, says Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the Union Government was not doing a favour to Himachal by providing funds as “it is our legitimate right like any other state”.

Sukhu, while talking to mediapersons here on the opening day of the Budget session, took exception to the remarks of some BJP leaders that the Himachal Government would not be able to function without central funding. “When the UPA government was in power, non-Congress ruled states used to get central assistance. As such, the BJP government at the Centre is not doing us a favour but are giving us what is our right,” he added.

He said, “We are not seeking a favour but what is being given to us is our share and our legitimate right. We are seeking our share, which is our constitutional right.”

The Chief Minister said, “Out of the Central-State taxes, all states get their share. Though the Central Government has imposed a cess on some items like diesel, states do not get a share in it. So, it is very wrong on the part of BJP leaders to say that the Himachal Government cannot function without central assistance and funding.”

He said that Rs 9,200 crore of the state government employees, who had switched over to the old pension scheme from the new pension scheme, must be returned to Himachal. “Since we have switched over to the old pension scheme, the Centre must return Rs 9200 crore, which it has invested in stocks,” he added.

Sukhu said, “When the Assembly adopted a resolution seeking assistance from the Centre as relief for the damage and losses suffered in the rain disaster in 2023, the BJP staged a walkout though its MLAs were seeking a debate on the issue. The Centre sent a team to assess the losses and pegged the losses at about Rs 10,000 crore but Himachal is yet to get this amount.”

Cong chalks out plan to counter BJP

• The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) held a meeting ahead of the Budget session here on Monday
• A strategy was chalked out at the meeting to give a befitting reply to the Opposition’s attacks during the session that’s likely to witness intense debates and discussions
• Congress president Pratibha Singh attended the meeting
• The Congress is planning to corner the BJP over the Central Government’s alleged step-motherly treatment to the state, especially over the lack of financial assistance to the state post the rain calamity in 2023
• The Congress will also raise the issue of the reducing revenue deficit grant, slashing of the loan limit, etc.