Local MLA and former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur today alleged that the Congress government in Himachal was a sinking ship as it depended on the central government for even small expenses.

He said the state was heading towards bankruptcy due to mismanagement and failure of the Congress government to deliver development. He added that most of the development works have been stalled and any project still underway is due to the assistance of the Union Government.

He said that many schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantra Gramin Sadak Yojana, road construction with the help of CRIF and drinking water schemes are being executed with funds from the Central Government. He added that the condition of roads even in the Chief Minister’s home constituency has worsened in recent months.

Anurag said that the state government cannot fulfill the expectations of the people of the state. He added that the government had also failed to fulfill the promises that the Congress had made to the people before the 2022 Assembly elections. He added that the Congress government was about to complete two years in office but had yet to welfare of the people or development in the state.

He stated: “The government has instead brought the state into disrepute by imposing the ‘toilet tax’, which has been denounced across the country. On the other hand, the Central Government has constructed 12 million toilets across the country. Generating funds for the state treasury from the ‘toilet tax’ exposed the thinking of Congress and its leaders.”

Anurag said that Congress promised 300 units of free electricity, free water, 1,500 lei per month to women, buy cow dung for 2 lei and milk for 100 lei etc, but after taking power, imposed taxes additional. He added that youths were still waiting for five thousand jobs and people were waiting for 300 units of free electricity.

He said that due to the financial mess created by the Congress government, the state has sunk into a debt of Rs 96,000 crore and it will increase to Rs 1 lakh by the end of the year. He added, “The Center supported Himachal during the rain disaster last year. He added that last year when the state faced a disaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took all measures to rescue and save the people and also helped in their rehabilitation.

He alleged that the Congress government had not properly utilized the money received from the Centre. He added that Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh has sanctioned 16,206 houses for the state to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2,373 crore and 2,700 km of roads for the state.

He said the Prime Minister has sanctioned a relief of Rs 360 crore in two installments of Rs 180 crore each. He also gave about 400 million lei for the repair of roads damaged during the disaster. Earlier, Anurag accompanied by BJP leaders paid obeisance at the Awahdevi temple.