SHIMLA,Dated 11^th November 2024-Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sanjay Awasthi while addressing a press conference here today said that former State BJP government made wasteful expenditure worth crores of rupees for organising events like Jan Manch and Foundation Day.

Sanjay Awasthi said that the BJP government made big and unrealistic announcements, only to leave employees and citizens in the lurch. They proudly declared revised salaries and dearness allowance (DA) worth Rs. 10,600 crore just before elections, but failed to release the promised arrears to the employees. Rs. 10,000 crore in salary and Rs. 600 crore DA arrears remain unpaid even today. He further criticized the BJP for failing to secure adequate financial support from the 15^th Finance Commission, which was causing a loss of Rs. 1,420 crore for the state.

Sh. Awasthi said that Rs. 19 crore were spent during the investor's meet organized in Dharamshala. Apart from this, the baffling revelation of rupees six crore spent on chapattis alone and even the basic commitments like fare payments to the State Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) were left unpaid leaving the corporation on debits. He said that finance commission had promised Rs.1000 crore for Mandi Airport, Rs. 400 crore for the expansion of Kangra Airport and Rs. 20 crore for Jawalamukhi temple but no amount has been released yet. Even today the State has not received Rs. 1420 yet from the finance commission.

Turning to recent events, Sh. Awasthi revealed how the administrative negligence of the BJP left Himachal burdened by ongoing financial challenges, while Congress, under the able leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has taken the reins with responsibility and purpose. The BJP, which boasts of employees well-wishers made fall promises and even former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur asked the employees to resign and fight elections if they wanted pensions.

The CPS said that besides financial constraints and challenges posed by the disaster, the state government was taking the state ahead on the path of development. From restoring the old pension scheme for 1.36 lakh employees to fulfilling promises like providing a minimum support price for natural produce and offering monthly assistance for women, the Congress government has prioritized the people over politics. Initiatives like the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Mahila Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana where Rs.1500 were being given to 2.85 lakh eligible women, Rs. 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Start-up scheme under which the subsidy was being given to purchase e-taxi and 50 percent subsidy on the installation of solar panels in private land have proven boon for the general masses.

He said that the Government has earned additional revenue of Rs. 480 crore after making amendments on the Excise Policy and due to its administrative reforms and financial discipline the government has succeeded in earning additional revenue of Rs. 2600 crore.

Sanjay Awasthi said the Opposition leaders were left without any real issues and were unable to digest the growing popularity of Congress Government. He said that the people of the state were well aware of the nefarious designs of the BJP leaders and have already discarded their petty politics. Left with no issues, they were in desperation to remain in limelight and resorting to baseless claims, as their attempts to destabilize the government have clearly failed. Unlike the previous government, which mastered slogans over substance, the Congress government remains focused on transforming Himachal into a self-reliant by 2027 and prosperous state by 2032. He called the BJP leaders and the opposition leader to act as a responsible opposition and abandon divisive theatrics and support genuine efforts of Congress Government to uplift and develop Himachal Pradesh.