Mandi, Dec 11 († LatestNewsX) – During the Jan Sankalp Sammelan held here the chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, spoke to the crowd about how the state’s government has been battling economic, political and natural woes for the past three years. He outlined the burdens left by the former BJP administration and how his own team has tackled them head‑on.
“The former BJP regime was a drain on the state’s finances, piling up a debt of ₹75 000 crore through reckless spending and mismanagement,” the chief minister said. “Our government has had to borrow simply to pay that back.” He added that it also inherited the task of disbursing employee arrears totaling ₹10 000 crore. He went on to point out that the previous government sold 4 500 bighas of land for a mere ₹1.12 crore in a custom “package” that wasn’t even registered.
“We are committed to protecting the state’s resources and safeguarding the rights of Himachal’s citizens,” CM Sukhu declared. “We’ve made firm decisions to make Himachal self‑reliant and prosperous, while firmly asserting our legitimate claims before the Centre and neighbouring states.”
He further explained that the “Wildflower Hall” dispute ended with a legal win that will net the state ₹20 crore annually. The Karchham‑Wangtoo project’s royalty rate has risen from 12 % to 18 %, adding about ₹150 crore in yearly revenue. He contrasted this with the 450 crore the former BJP earned over four years through renewed liquor licences, noting that his current government achieved the same in just one year thanks to a new excise policy.
Addressing criticism, he said the BJP often resorts to misleading attacks. “They even scrutinised his choice of an Alto car as a petty insult,” he laughed. “But our record will help us win in 2027 with a 52‑seater Volvo.” He added, “True public servants fear no one, and by 2027 we’ll see Himachal fully self‑reliant.”
The chief minister kept the public’s welfare at the core of his administration. “Immediately after taking office, the state enacted ‘Mukhyamantri Sukh‑Ashray Yojana,’ which, through legislation, adopted orphaned children as ‘Children of the State’—a compassionate choice, not a political pledge.” He highlighted the extensive support the government has provided to residents hit by recent natural disasters.
“The decision to revert to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) isn’t political; it’s about guaranteeing social security for employees and their families,” he affirmed. He reminded citizens that the Congress party has sacrificed two prime ministers for the nation’s unity and integrity.
He urged the people to back the state government’s push toward self‑reliance over the next two years. “Together we will reshape the destiny and image of Himachal Pradesh,” he concluded. (vg/khz)
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