“Sarkar Gareeb hai, log ameer hain (The government is poor while people are rich) — this is now Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu cryptically summed up the condition of the state to News18.
Today, Sukhu faces questions over Himachal’s finances. As per date available, the debt liabilities in the state increased to Rs 76,651 crore in 2023. According to the state administration, Himachal is staring at a Rs 520 crore revenue deficit. Sukhu says this is because of the BJP government before him that depleted the economy and emptied coffers. Till now, the state has been depending on borrowings through market loan with an estimated debt of Rs 86,589 crore. It needs money and possibly loans but Sukhu is not confident and is hence depending on fiscal prudence.
“Our expense annually on pension and salaries is Rs 25,000 crore. Monthly, it is Rs 1,200 crore on salaries and Rs 80 crore on pension. The BJP has been liberal with sops and freebies leading to this situation. Those who should pay income tax are exempted. Almost everybody has got water and electricity free and this is something I won’t allow. We have tried to improve the finances. For example, we began auction of liquor tenders and earned Rs 485 crore in one year, while BJP government earned Rs 635 crore in five years,” Sukhu said.
According to the chief minister, there has been increase of 20 per cent in the economic growth figure in the state. In contrast, he said the BJP deferred Dearness Allowance (DA) despite the revenue surplus in 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. He also accused the BJP government of not using resources efficiently.
The BJP, however, refuses to buy the argument, accusing the Congress of making excuses despite being in power for two years. Rahul Gandhi is also facing flak, with the BJP warning voters ahead of assembly polls in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand that Gandhi announces schemes and poll promises ‘khata khat’ but can’t fulfil them.
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