Congress Assures Employees on Pending Dues, Blames BJP for Financial Mismanagement
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President Vinay Kumar has accused the previous BJP government of leaving behind a heavy financial burden while failing to clear the dues of state employees and pensioners. He asserted that the present government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is committed to addressing these pending liabilities and safeguarding employee interests.
Addressing the issue, Vinay Kumar criticised former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, alleging that his government weakened the state’s financial health by increasing debt and leaving substantial liabilities related to employees’ payments and benefits. He said it was ironic that BJP leaders were now projecting themselves as supporters of government employees despite what he described as their failure to settle employees’ dues during their tenure.
The Congress leader also targeted the BJP-led Central Government, alleging that Himachal Pradesh had been treated unfairly on several fronts. Referring to the state’s disaster challenges, he claimed that the relief assistance announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not fully reach the state as expected. In contrast, he said, the Sukhu government stood firmly with affected families and ensured relief and support for those impacted by natural calamities.
Vinay Kumar further alleged that BJP leaders were more focused on political interests than on helping people during difficult times. He also criticised the Centre over the closure of RDG, claiming that the move had adversely affected the state’s development and future growth prospects.
Seeking to reassure government employees and pensioners, he said the Congress government was fully aware of their concerns regarding pending payments and dues. He maintained that the state government was sensitive to their issues and working towards clearing the outstanding liabilities in a phased manner.
Highlighting the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), Kumar said the Congress government had already fulfilled one of its major promises to employees and would continue to honour its commitments. He also urged employees not to be influenced by what he termed BJP’s political messaging on the issue, expressing confidence that the Congress government would continue working in their interest.
The remarks come amid continuing political sparring between the Congress and the BJP over fiscal management, employee welfare and the state’s development priorities, with both parties seeking to position themselves as the stronger advocate for Himachal Pradesh’s workforce and pensioners.
