Sukhu slams Centre over no relief package for flood-hit

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today rejected the claim of BJP leaders regarding financial crisis in the hill state. He lashed out at the saffron party-led Central government for failing to provide a special relief package to his state for rehabilitation of residents affected by flash floods and cloud bursts last year.

Sukhu was addressing a Congress rally in support of party candidate Chander Mohan in Barwala.

BJP leaders, including Dr Rajiv Bindal, president, Himachal Pradesh BJP, had claimed during party rallies in Panchkula that the Congress government in the state was in financial crisis and had failed to fulfil its promises.

Sukhu, who was accompanied by other MLAs from the hill state, said his government single-handedly dealt with the destruction caused by flash floods due to cloudburst and incessant rain in 2023. He said, “Despite vast devastation, the Narendra Modi government failed to lend HP a helping hand and provide a relief package for residents. Over 23,000 houses were partially or completely damaged. Dealing with it single-handedly, we provided a relief package of Rs 4,500 crore to residents to renovate their ravaged houses.”

He added that apart from the relief, the state government also provided Rs 45 per kg MSP on procurement of cow milk. He said, "We want to strengthen the rural economy. Therefore, we also increased MGNREGA payments."

Sukhu said the Congress government of Himachal Pradesh issued benefits of old pension scheme to 1.36 lakh government employees and completed its assurances to the people. "We declared 5,000 orphans as children of the state and provided them Rs 4,000 pocket money and covered their education expenses till the age of 27." He said the HP government wouldn't have been able to provide such benefits to people had it been facing economic crisis.