In a statement released from Shimla, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur slammed the Sukhu government, citing the recently presented 2023-24 CAG report as evidence of its poor performance. Thakur emphasized that the report highlighted the lack of vision in the state government, resulting in the unutilized release of over ₹1,024 crore by the central government. Despite the funds being allocated, the money remained unused in various government accounts, leading to the unfortunate decision to return the funds, which Thakur called a “betrayal” of the people of Himachal Pradesh.
He further criticized the Chief Minister for his claims of having the most thorough understanding of the budget. According to Thakur, the CAG report reveals the discrepancies in the CM’s so-called “well-read” budget. It was found that although a supplementary budget of ₹711 crore was presented for 14 schemes, the original budget for those schemes had not been spent. He pointed out that, if utilized effectively, this amount could have greatly benefitted the state. He also criticized the government’s lack of spending on 40 key projects, with not a single rupee spent from the allocated budget.
Thakur called attention to the state’s failure in utilizing funds, citing that out of the 2,990 projects planned for 2023–24, ₹2,795 crore had no utilization certificates filed. This led him to question where the funds had been spent and to accuse the government of failing to manage the finances properly. He added that the state had failed to make any substantial changes in governance, causing a halt in the state’s development.
Thakur also addressed the issue of the recent disaster in the Manimahesh region, which was severely affected by cloudbursts. He pointed out that social media reports and videos from eyewitnesses contradicted the government’s claims, with many devotees and pilgrims on-site revealing the extent of the damage. Some reports suggested significant loss of life, yet the government had yet to provide a clear response. Thakur argued that the government’s claims of providing relief seemed disconnected from the on-ground reality, with many victims rejecting the government’s assurances.
The Leader of Opposition demanded that the CM clarify the situation regarding the casualties and losses during the Manimahesh yatra, especially in light of the ongoing communication and electricity failures, which made it difficult to assess the true scale of the damage. He urged the government to provide a clear and truthful report to the public, as the situation on the ground painted a different picture than what was being communicated by the authorities.
Thakur concluded by asserting that the government’s failure to address these issues showed a significant gap between the official narrative and the realities faced by the people of Himachal Pradesh.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
