Himachal Pradesh News
OPS will continue, salaries and pensions secure despite financial stress: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the Old Pension Scheme will not be withdrawn and salaries and pensions will continue despite financial constraints, asserting the government’s commitment to welfare and fiscal discipline.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the Old Pension Scheme will not be withdrawn and salaries and pensions will continue despite financial constraints, asserting the government’s commitment to welfare and fiscal discipline.
Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday categorically stated that his government would not discontinue the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for employees despite severe financial challenges faced by the state.
Speaking to mediapersons before leaving for New Delhi, Sukhu said that irrespective of projections made by the Finance Department, serving and retired employees would continue to receive their salaries and pensions on time.
“My job is to generate resources and move forward with the money that we have,” the Chief Minister said.
He assured that no welfare scheme for the poor and underprivileged would be stopped, asserting that he understood the hardships faced by ordinary families.
“I understand the pain and suffering of the poor and needy. I know how to struggle against odds and emerge victorious,” Sukhu said.
The Chief Minister claimed that had the BJP retained power in the 2022 Assembly elections, the OPS would have been scrapped.
“My father was an employee, and I understand the pain of an ordinary family that depends on pension,” he added.
Sukhu also refuted the claim made by Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur that the invitation for attending the Finance Department’s presentation was extended by the Secretary (Finance), calling it inappropriate. He displayed a copy of the letter written by him personally to the former Chief Minister.
Accusing the BJP of politicising the issue, Sukhu said that while the state government was fighting for Himachal’s rights, the Opposition was focused on electoral gains.
“It is shameful that when we are fighting to protect Himachal’s interests, the Leader of the Opposition is asking BJP cadres to gear up for elections,” he said.
He urged BJP leaders from Himachal, including all seven BJP MPs, to jointly meet the Prime Minister and demand the continuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG).
Highlighting fiscal comparisons, Sukhu said that while the previous BJP government received over ₹54,000 crore as RDG in five years, the Congress-led government had received only ₹17,000 crore in the last three years.
“Despite this, we have ensured that development works are not affected. We exercised fiscal prudence and generated ₹3,800 crore from our own resources during this period,” he said.
The Chief Minister criticised Jai Ram Thakur and Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur for making what he termed irresponsible statements.
“Governments will come and go, but what matters is understanding the pain and problems of the people,” he said.
Sukhu further alleged that although the treasury was in surplus during Jai Ram Thakur’s tenure, pending arrears of employees were not cleared.
“Instead, ₹5,000 crore was spent on freebies and contractor payments, reflecting fiscal mismanagement,” he claimed.
Calling for bipartisan unity, Sukhu appealed to the Opposition to rise above political differences.
“The withdrawal of RDG will affect all future governments. This is the time to protect Himachal’s interests rather than indulge in petty politics,” he said, accusing the Centre of adopting a step-motherly attitude towards the state.
