BJP govt had doled out Rs 5,000 crore freebies but still lost 2022 poll: CM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that voters had rejected the BJP in the 2022 Assembly elections for not fulfilling promises though its so-called double-engine government had distributed Rs 5,000 crore freebies.

Sukhu, while talking to mediapersons here, said that the BJP had inaugurated several incomplete development projects as it was in a haste to win elections. “The BJP regime had inaugurated incomplete projects but our government was committed to completing these. The BJP government had announced projects without making a budgetary provision,” he added.

The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating the Dhalli bus stand constructed at a cost of Rs 13 crore. Later, he laid the foundation stone of the project for the modernisation of the Dhalli vegetable market at a cost of Rs 36 crore. He also inaugurated a community centre and a parking facility at a cemetery at Sanjauli constructed at a cost of Rs 1.65 crore.

Sukhu said that his government would lay the foundation stone of development projects after making adequate budgetary provisions to ensure their timely completion. “The previous BJP government had laid the foundation stones of the Dhalli and Theog bus stands without allocating a budget, purely for electoral gains. We have allocated Rs 10 crore for the completion of the bus stand,” he added.

He said that the decision of the state government to withdraw subsidies would not impact common people, who would continue to receive these benefits. “Why should big hoteliers and well-off people get subsidies, whether on power or water supply? I want to assure everyone that the withdrawal of subsidies will not impact the weaker sections of society and needy people,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that the government had been forced to take some harsh steps but these were in the larger interest of the state and the results of which would become visible by 2027. He cautioned people not to be misled by the BJP’s false propaganda in this regard.

Sukhu lamented that despite massive damage to infrastructure during the monsoon in 2023, the Central Government did not provide financial assistance to Himachal. “Unperturbed by the Centre’s attitude, the state government announced a special package of Rs 4,500 crore and also enhanced compensation for damaged houses, cowsheds and under other heads in the relief manual,” he added.

He said, “We must create self-employment opportunities and better facilities in rural areas to bring about economic prosperity so that there is no migration.”

Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar said that the blueprint for the modernisation of the Dhalli vegetable market was ready and the government aimed to establish multi-purpose markets at strategic locations and provide them with nationwide linkages to facilitate farmers. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Cabinet ministers Anirudh Singh and Vikramaditya Singh, MLA Harish Janartha and Chairman of the Shimla APMC Dev Anand Verma were present.