Himachal Pradesh News
Jai Ram Thakur Raises Alarm Over Himachal’s Finances After Meeting PM Narendra Modi
In a significant political development, Jai Ram Thakur, Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday to raise concerns over the state’s worsening financial condition.
In a significant political development, Jai Ram Thakur, Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday to raise concerns over the state’s worsening financial condition.
After the meeting, Thakur expressed serious concern about the fiscal health of Himachal Pradesh, saying that the situation demands urgent attention. He pointed out that several decisions taken by the current government are putting additional pressure on the common people.
One of the key issues he highlighted was the recent imposition of a fuel cess of up to ₹5 on petrol and diesel. Calling it unfair, Thakur said that such measures directly impact everyday citizens, especially in a hill state where transportation costs are already high.
He also criticised the state government for relying on funds collected under welfare schemes meant for vulnerable groups such as widows and orphans. According to him, using such funds for general governance sends the wrong message and raises ethical concerns.
Speaking on the seriousness of the situation, Thakur warned that even a temporary delay in salaries of the Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs, or government employees would reflect an “emergency-like” financial crisis. Drawing a comparison with the COVID-19 period, he referred to how salary cuts in Andhra Pradesh were later struck down by the Supreme Court.
Despite his criticism, Thakur maintained that the Opposition is willing to support constructive steps to improve the state’s finances. However, he emphasized that the government must focus on reducing unnecessary expenditure and creating sustainable sources of revenue instead of placing additional burdens on the public.
The meeting has once again brought Himachal Pradesh’s financial challenges into the spotlight, raising questions about the road ahead for the state’s economic stability.
