Himachal economy in danger, BJP’s Nadda warns of rising corruption under Congress rule

BILASPUR: BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda slammed the Congress-led government in Himachal Pradesh and accused it of pushing the state towards economic instability and rampant corruption. Speaking at a public gathering in Bilaspur, Nadda warned that the state’s financial health is on the verge of collapse as the Congress government is unable to manage its affairs without adequate support from the Centre.

Nadda claimed that the state government is completely dependent on the central government for its day-to-day functioning. “If the central government does not help, the state government will not be able to run for even a day,” Nadda said. He said the Centre gives a revenue deficit grant of Rs 500 crore and an additional Rs 800 crore every month to keep the state afloat. He criticised the Congress government, saying it has failed to manage its finances and accused Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu of adopting a double standard by complaining about lack of central assistance during the elections while expressing gratitude to the Centre in Delhi.

Nadda’s comments also targeted the Sukhu government’s controversial taxation policies, particularly the recent Rs 25 tax imposed on toilets. He said the decision to tax basic amenities like toilets reflects the government’s failure to manage public money. “This government is imposing taxes on almost everything and now even toilets are not being spared. This decision is being criticised across the country,” Nadda said.

Accusing the Congress government of being “100% corrupt”, Nadda said the administration has lost both its integrity and sense of humour. He argued that corruption is rampant at all levels and the people of Himachal Pradesh are being harassed by the state’s policies. Linking the Congress party’s rule to the flourishing of the drug trade in the state, Nadda claimed that drug trafficking had increased under their leadership, particularly affecting Himachal, Punjab and Haryana. He alleged that a Congress leader was involved in a Rs 5,600 crore drug case and warned that the drug menace would increase even more if the Congress remained in power.

In his address, Nadda emphasised India’s economic rise on the global stage under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and compared it with the economic failures of other countries. He said India has become the 5th largest economy from the 11th and is on its way to becoming the third largest economy in the next three years. He compared India’s growth rate of 6.8% with countries like the US, Japan and Australia, which have much lower growth rates.

Nadda highlighted several initiatives of the Modi government aimed at uplifting the underprivileged, including a health guarantee of Rs 5 lakh for citizens above 70 years of age and construction of 93,000 houses under the housing scheme in Himachal. He accused the Congress of making empty promises during elections and said they fail to fulfil their commitments after coming to power. He also criticised the Sukhu government for not effectively using ₹1,190 crore provided by the Centre for disaster management and infrastructure development.