Shimla

Leader of Opposition and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday accused the state government of misleading the Assembly and the public by presenting “wrong figures” on the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), alleging that the issue was being politicised to mask governance failures.

Addressing a press conference here, Thakur said the Congress-led government had been targeting the Centre ever since assuming office under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, despite receiving support. “The problem is not that RDG was not mentioned in the Union Budget. Even when RDG was being provided, the government kept criticising the Centre. When the 16th Finance Commission indicated that such grants may not continue, they again resorted to blame games,” he said.

Thakur asserted that managing the state’s finances in the absence of RDG was the responsibility of the present dispensation. “If RDG is not received, it is for the current government to handle the situation. You cannot hide non-performance by blaming others,” he said.

Referring to the recent three-day Assembly session, the BJP leader said the Governor’s address lasted only “2 minutes and 7 seconds”, and alleged that the government violated convention by prioritising discussion on RDG before debating the address. He said BJP MLAs nevertheless participated in the debate and highlighted what they described as the government’s shortcomings.

Accusing the Chief Minister of presenting contradictory financial data, Thakur cited figures placed in the House on different dates. “On August 26, 2025, the Chief Minister said Rs 26,830 crore had been borrowed and Rs 8,253 crore repaid. On February 18, 2026, he said Rs 35,482 crore had been borrowed and Rs 27,000 crore repaid. Is it practical to repay nearly Rs 19,000 crore in just seven months?” he asked.

Thakur further claimed that during the BJP government’s tenure from 2017 to 2022, Rs 40,372 crore was borrowed while Rs 78,276 crore was repaid, arguing that repayment performance was stronger than under the current regime. He also said that from 1993 to 2022, the state’s total debt stood at around Rs 69,600 crore, while the present government had borrowed nearly Rs 40,000 crore between 2023 and 2026 alone.

Citing a presentation by the state Finance Secretary, Thakur said it warned of tough fiscal choices ahead, including the possible withdrawal of subsidies, stalling of development works, delays in clearing liabilities and an impact on recruitment. Ignoring such advice, he said, raised serious questions about financial management.

On RDG, Thakur reiterated that the Centre had repeatedly advised states to enhance revenue generation and curb expenditure, warning that RDG could be discontinued. “Instead of preparing for this, the government expanded expenditure and announced guarantees,” he alleged.

Stating that the BJP would support any genuine effort to secure benefits for Himachal Pradesh, Thakur said the government must present a clear roadmap. “If you share a credible vision to take Himachal forward, we will consider supporting you. But misleading people in the name of RDG must stop,” he added.

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Concluding, the Leader of Opposition said the RDG debate should not be politicised and urged the Congress government to focus on the state’s long-term financial stability.