Congress regime lists 2 year’s achievements at Bilaspur rally, hits out at Modi regime for discriminating against Himachal Pradesh

Accusing the Modi-led BJP regime of discriminating against Himachal, the Sukhu-led Congress regime today highlighted its achievements at a rally held in Bilaspur to mark the two years of the state government.

Addressing the well-attended rally at Luhnu ground, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu lashed out at the BJP for failing to protect the interest of the state. “We inherited a near bankrupt government from the BJP regime. The Centre is meting out stepmotherly treatment to Himachal by not extending any financial help and denying us even our legitimate rights,” he said. He said the Centre was misusing central investigating agencies to target him personally, but he was not one to be intimidated.

AICC Incharge of the Himachal Congress, Rajeev Shukla, State Congress President Pratibha Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, ministers, MLAs, party office-bearers, and workers from across the state attended the rally. Sukhu said the real celebrations would happen in 2027 when Himachal becomes self-reliant and the most prosperous state in the country.

The CM said that despite massive devastation due to natural disaster, Himachal was not given any special financial assistance by the Centre, and the Rs 9,200 crore as disaster relief for damages in the 2023 monsoons is still awaited. “Despite no help from the Centre, we rescued 75,000 tourists stranded in the state after the devastating monsoons in 2023 and announced a Rs 4,500 crore relief package to provide succour to the affected families,” he said.

He said there was an increase of 14 per cent in the Congress vote share in the Assembly by-polls. “The people of Himachal defeated the political conspiracy by the BJP to destabilise our government as six Congress MLAs joined the BJP, but our party still won six of the nine by-polls,” he said. He said the BJP was faction-ridden, with there being a power struggle.

Sukhu said his government will fight to protect the rights of Himachal and bring the derailed economy back on track. “We have tried to provide succour to every section of society, be it employees, youth, women, or farmers. Do not be misled by the false propaganda of the BJP, as truth eventually prevails,” he said. He accused previous BJP regimes of failing to protect the interests of Himachal.

“I have tried to lay the foundation of a self-reliant Himachal with the help of Vyavastha Parivartan (change in system), and the results are beginning to show. We inherited an economy that was debt-ridden, but I am glad that with our initiatives we were able to generate an additional Rs 2,200 crore,” he said. We will take these steps forward and try to improve the financial health of the state, he added. The CM said 1.36 lakh employees had been given the old pension scheme, one of the main guarantees given by the Congress.