LoP Calls Himachal Budget “Anti-People, Hollow and Directionless”; Alleges Govt Focused on ‘Snatching, Not Serving’
Munish Sood
Mandi
Mounting a fierce political offensive, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur on Sunday tore into the Sukhu government’s fourth budget, claiming it has failed to inspire confidence not just among the जनता but within the ruling Congress itself.
In a scathing assessment, Thakur termed the budget “the most dull, directionless and anti-people document in the state’s history,” asserting that even Congress leaders appeared disengaged and unconvinced.
“I have seen 29 budgets in my political life, but never one so uninspiring. The जनता is disappointed—and even Congress leaders are not standing behind it,” he said.
“From Governance to ‘Extraction Model’”
Sharpening his attack on Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the BJP leader accused the government of shifting from welfare to what he called an “extraction-driven शासन मॉडल.”
“For the first time, Himachal is witnessing a government that believes only in taking from people, not giving to them,” Thakur said.
He alleged that over 2,000 institutions established during the previous BJP regime were either shut down or rolled back, and now the government is “withdrawing welfare support and delaying salaries,” deepening public distress.
CM’s ‘Arrogance’ in Assembly Under Fire
Thakur also targeted the Chief Minister’s conduct during the budget presentation, accusing him of displaying “unprecedented arrogance” on the Assembly floor.
According to him, Sukhu sidelined bureaucratic efforts and attempted to claim full ownership of the budget.
“The Chief Minister spoke as though he alone drafted the entire budget, brushing aside the मेहनत of administrative officers,” he remarked.
He further alleged that the CM resorted to “humour and theatrics” in the House to divert attention from governance failures.
“Development Only on Central Support”
Questioning the credibility of development claims, Thakur said most announcements rely heavily on central funding.
From road projects to health sector allocations, he argued that the financial backbone comes from the Centre.
“Be it infrastructure or National Health Mission benefits—everything depends on central funds. What exactly is the state government contributing?” he asked.
Fiscal Stress, Salary Delays Trigger Concern
Raising alarm over the state’s financial health, the Leader of Opposition said government employees are facing growing uncertainty due to “irrational and ad-hoc decisions.”
He accused the government of draining the treasury on “political patronage and freebies,” only to later defer salaries in the name of fiscal correction.
“This is not financial management, this is administrative breakdown,” he said.
“Discontent Visible Even Within Congress”
In a politically loaded claim, Thakur said the discomfort over the budget was evident even within the ruling benches.
“The mood inside the Assembly made it clear—Congress leaders themselves were not convinced and were quietly ridiculing the budget,” he claimed.
Renaming Schemes, No Original Vision
The BJP leader further accused the Sukhu government of lacking originality, alleging that it has merely repackaged central schemes under new names.
“This is nothing but rebranding central projects to claim credit—a clear deception with the people,” he said.
Promises Diluted, Public Burdened
Highlighting the impact on citizens, Thakur said the government has imposed fresh financial burdens while quietly diluting its key election guarantees.
He pointed to:
• Conditional rollout of 300 units free electricity
• Restrictions on the ₹1,500 monthly aid for women
“Promises were universal before elections; now they come with fine print to exclude maximum beneficiaries,” he alleged.
He also flagged rising utility bills and claimed that livestock farmers remain dissatisfied despite announcements on milk pricing, citing low procurement on the ground.
“A Clever Document, But Completely Hollow”
Summing up his attack, Jairam Thakur described the budget as “a cleverly packaged but fundamentally hollow document” with little real impact.
“No section of society feels reassured or benefited. The government has failed to deliver substance, and the मुख्यमंत्री is now masking that failure with rhetoric inside the House,” he said.
