Sukhu Defends Cement Price Policy, Accuses BJP of Deflecting from Delayed Disaster Relief
In a sharp rebuttal to opposition claims, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu dismissed allegations that his government imposed extra local taxes on cement following a GST reduction. He accused the BJP of misleading the public to distract from the Centre’s delay in releasing ₹1,500 crore in disaster relief funds to the state.
Setting the record straight, Sukhu emphasized that the Congress-led government had actually reduced cement prices soon after taking office. “When we assumed charge, a bag of cement cost ₹425. We reduced it by ₹25 to ₹400. No state tax has been levied on cement as claimed,” he clarified.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the financial strain Himachal has faced since the implementation of GST in 2017. “Earlier, excise duty and VAT brought in nearly ₹4,000 crore annually from industries. That figure has now plummeted to just ₹150 crore. To make matters worse, the Centre discontinued the GST deficit grant in June 2022,” he said.
Sukhu accused BJP leaders of using diversionary tactics. “Instead of ensuring Himachal gets the disaster relief it was promised, they are busy creating confusion among the people,” he remarked.
His comments came in response to Union Minister and BJP national president J.P. Nadda, who alleged that the state government failed to pass on the benefits of the GST cut on cement. Nadda claimed that despite the Prime Minister reducing GST from 28% to 18%, the Congress government imposed an anti-dumping duty of up to ₹16 per 50-kg bag, making cement more expensive in Himachal than in neighboring states.
Nadda further criticized the state government for being insensitive during a crisis, pointing to recent hikes in water bills, stamp duty, rural water supply fees, and electricity tariffs.
