Mandi (Munish Sood)
In a strikingly ironic turn of events, prominent Congress leader and Director of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank, Keshav Nayak, is at the forefront of a protest by government contractors against the alleged non-release of payments from the state treasury in Himachal Pradesh.
Nayak who is also a contractor, under his leadership in the agitation has put the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government in an awkward position, highlighting growing dissatisfaction over delayed payments and the handling of financial affairs.
Contractors facing financial crisis
Under Nayak’s leadership, contractors from Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti have united, citing severe financial distress due to a backlog of payments amounting to Rs 600 crore stuck in the treasury and an additional Rs 2,100 crore pending with various departments.
Several contractors, unable to repay loans or market debts, are facing the prospect of selling their properties.
“This is the first time in history that contractors have been pushed to the brink of financial collapse due to a treasury ‘shutdown’. The government must immediately address this issue to prevent further damage to the state’s development and its own credibility,” Nayak asserted during a meeting of the Government Contractors Welfare Council in Sundernagar.
Fight beyond party lines
Speaking to The Newz Radar, Nayak justified his leadership in the protest, emphasising that the issue transcended political affiliations.
“This is not about the Congress or the BJP, but it is about the financial trauma contractors are going through. We have to think above party lines because the contractors belong to all political backgrounds. Their livelihood and dignity are at stake, and it is our duty to support them,” he stated.
Nayak also highlighted the broader implications of the treasury closure. The delay in payments has resulted in an additional GST burden of Rs 200 crore on contractors and the government risks losing over Rs 1,000 crore in revenue if the payments remain stalled.
“Furthermore, major development projects across the state have been disrupted, impacting public welfare and employment for over 5 lakh workers who depend on these projects,” he said.
Contractors warn of road blockade
If the payments are not cleared before the upcoming budget session, Nayak and the contractors have warned of a massive road blockade, potentially paralysing the state’s transportation and development activities.
“Contractors are the backbone of the government’s development agenda. Neglecting them will halt the state’s progress and we are prepared to escalate the protest, if necessary,” Nayak said.
The agitation has put the Congress government in a difficult position, with one of its own senior leaders openly challenging its policies.
The rare scenario of a Congress leader leading a protest against a Congress government has sparked political debate and raised questions about the government’s priorities and internal cohesion.
