Naresh Chauhan Raises Concerns Over Centre’s Policies, Highlights State Initiatives
Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan, on Thursday voiced concern over recent remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that appeals to conserve fuel, limit foreign travel and avoid excessive gold purchases hint at a possible economic strain. He said the Prime Minister should clearly present the true state of the country’s economy to the people.
Responding to comments about Himachal Pradesh’s finances, Chauhan dismissed claims regarding delays in salary payments to state employees, calling them baseless and factually incorrect. He asserted that the state’s financial position is gradually improving and there is no difficulty in paying salaries. At the same time, he raised concerns about the country’s growing debt and urged the Central Government to address these issues transparently.
Chauhan also called on the Centre to extend greater support to Himachal Pradesh, saying that if it genuinely cares for the state, it should announce a special financial package and restore the discontinued Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG). Highlighting steps taken by the state government, he noted that the revival of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) has provided relief to over 1.36 lakh employees, while the ₹1500 monthly assistance scheme for women is being implemented in phases.
Turning to the upcoming municipal corporation elections, Chauhan expressed confidence that the Congress is receiving positive public response across all four municipal corporations. He said Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has already begun campaigning from Mandi and will soon address voters in Palampur, Dharamshala and Solan.
Reflecting on the government’s achievements over the past three-and-a-half years, Chauhan said several transformative initiatives have been launched to shape the future of the state. In the education sector, he highlighted the introduction of English-medium education from Class I and the linking of nearly 150 schools with the CBSE curriculum, calling them key reforms that will strengthen students’ competitiveness.
He also spoke about progress in healthcare, noting that projects worth ₹1,750 crore are underway to introduce modern equipment and advanced technologies. Efforts are being made to expand robotic surgery facilities, advanced MRI services and healthcare access in rural areas, so that people can receive quality treatment within the state itself.
On rural development, Chauhan said the government’s decision to increase milk procurement prices by up to ₹20 per litre is aimed at strengthening the rural economy and improving incomes, particularly for women involved in dairy farming. He added that reducing migration from villages remains one of the government’s key priorities.
Criticising the opposition, Chauhan said the BJP lacks concrete issues and is attempting to create confusion among the public. He maintained that the state government is focused on transparent governance and public welfare, while the opposition is engaged in political rhetoric.
Addressing the NEET paper leak controversy, Chauhan termed it a serious issue affecting the future of millions of students. He urged the Central Government to take swift, strict and effective action to ensure fairness and restore confidence in the examination system.
