Development stalled under Congress government, 10 guarantees fail, employees suffer: BJP

Former Industry and Transport Minister Bikram Thakur said that development work in Himachal Pradesh has come to a complete standstill under the Congress government, and the dreams of the 10 guarantees promised to the public have become mere lies and deception. Today, the situation is such that the very employees who serve the public on the streets are now forced to take to the streets to demand their salaries.

He said that thousands of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) employees have been waiting for their salaries for the past month. This situation is not only shameful but also a living proof of the Congress government’s callousness. Government ministers spend crores of rupees on cars, luxury offices, and publicity, but the families of hardworking employees don’t even receive a month’s salary.

Bikram Thakur said that the Congress government’s financial failure is directly impacting the corporation’s employees and their families. Retired employees are forced to run from pillar to post to pay their pensions, medical bills, and arrears. The Chief Minister and ministers are making false claims of development in the media, while the ground reality is that the state’s financial situation is in shambles and development has completely stalled.

He said that during the BJP government’s tenure, several concrete steps were taken to make the HRTC self-reliant—decisions like increasing bus frequency, restructuring routes, and expanding digital services—but the Congress government shelved all of these as soon as it came to power. Today, the corporation’s losses have risen to ₹2,200 crore, and it is mired in overdrafts and debt.

Bikram Thakur said the Congress government has turned the HRTC into a political laboratory. The government’s policies are not only against the interests of employees but have also put Himachal’s most reliable public transport network on the path to ruin.

He said that the electric bus scheme has become another failed project of the Congress government. Buses purchased at a cost of crores of rupees are now rusting in depots – with no spare parts or maintenance. This is the result of the Congress government’s shortsightedness and negligence.

Bikram Thakur said that the Congress government has stalled the state’s development. New projects are not being initiated, nor are old ones gaining momentum. Development and relief funds sent by the central government are also not being utilized properly. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister is busy making announcements and publicity, while employees, farmers, and the general public are reeling under economic crisis.

The former minister said that this is the same government that, during elections, promised guarantees like ₹1,500 per month for women, jobs for youth, old pensions for employees, and employment for every household. Yet, three years later, none of the promises have been fulfilled. Today, the “10 Guarantees of Congress” have failed, and development in the state has stalled.

He alleged that the Congress government was patronizing private bus operators and deliberately parking HRTC Volvo buses. This was not only causing losses to the corporation but also conspiring to weaken the government transport system.

Bikram Thakur demanded from the government that the pending salaries of HRTC employees should be released immediately.

Retired employees’ pensions, gratuities, and medical bills should be paid on priority. A white paper should be issued on the corporation’s financial situation so that the public can learn the truth.

He said that the Congress halted the pace of institutional reform and development that began during the BJP government. Today, development in the state has stalled, guarantees have been stymied, and employees are disappointed. The public has now learned the reality of the Congress party; those who helped others reach their homes are now struggling to keep their own stoves burning.