Jairam Thakur Warns of Fiscal Storm in Himachal
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur launched a sharp attack on the ruling Congress government, claiming Himachal Pradesh is facing an “unprecedented financial crisis” due to mismanagement.
Speaking to the media after the BJP’s two-day executive meeting in Mandi, Thakur alleged that the state budget has shrunk by nearly ₹3,500 crore compared to last year, leaving less than 5% of funds for development. He warned that the government is increasingly dependent on loans just to repay existing debt and interest.
Thakur accused the Sukhu-led government of adding over ₹40,000 crore in debt in three-and-a-half years, pushing the total beyond ₹1.1 lakh crore. He also criticized rising borrowing rates and what he called “policy contradictions,” pointing out that while the CM says Himachal can never be revenue-surplus, he has promised to make it self-reliant by 2027 and the “richest state” by 2032.
The BJP leader cautioned that financial stress could force cuts in subsidies and delays in salaries and welfare payments. He also flagged alleged irregularities in schemes like Himcare and Sahara Yojana, and accused the government of delaying Panchayati Raj elections.
Calling the situation “deeply concerning,” Thakur announced that the BJP will launch a mass movement to raise these issues among the public. “The time has come for tough decisions, better revenue generation, and strict control on expenditure,” he said.
