Naresh Chauhan, Principal Advisor (Media) to the CM of Himachal Pradesh, strongly criticized the Central Government’s recently announced disaster relief package of ₹2,006 crore for the state, calling it “too little and too late.” He said that the sanctioned amount is grossly inadequate compared to the state’s estimated losses of ₹10,000 crore, as outlined in the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA).
Chauhan pointed out that only ₹1,500 crore of the package is the actual Central share, with the remainder coming from the state government. “This symbolic assistance is a betrayal of the people’s expectations and the seriousness of the disaster,” he said, adding that despite repeated pleas and meetings, the Centre delayed support and showed a lack of empathy.
He praised the Himachal Pradesh Government for its proactive response under CM Sukhu, including the rollout of a ₹4,500 crore relief and rehabilitation package using state resources. Chauhan stated that this reflects the government’s strong commitment to the people, despite financial constraints.
The Principal Advisor further accused the Central Government of political bias, saying it has treated Himachal Pradesh like an “orphaned state” for electing a Congress government. He urged the Centre to adopt an unbiased, humanitarian approach to disaster response, rather than letting political affiliations influence aid distribution.
Chauhan also condemned the BJP’s recent actions in Paonta Sahib, accusing the party of raising provocative slogans that could disturb communal harmony. He alleged that BJP leaders are attempting to distract from their failures by inciting unrest and exploiting religious sentiments for political gain.
“The people of Himachal deserve respect, timely support, and a fair response—not tokenism and neglect,” Chauhan concluded.
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