The Himachal Pradesh Congress has strongly countered BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s claim that the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) was discontinued by the central government 20 years ago. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and AYUSH Minister Yadvinder Goma demanded that Anurag Thakur stop misleading the public and produce even a single official letter supporting his claim.
The ministers stated that RDG is a constitutional right of Himachal Pradesh under Article 275(1), not a charity, and accused the previous BJP government of economic mismanagement that pushed the state into a debt trap. They urged BJP leaders to clarify their position on RDG instead of making political statements for media attention.
Highlighting past financial mismanagement, the ministers said that during the BJP regime, the state received about ₹54,000 crore in RDG and ₹16,000 crore in GST, but these funds were allegedly squandered on vacant buildings, cheap land allotments in Nalagarh, and favors to contractors and industrialists, rather than development. They pointed out irregularities such as 100% stamp duty and electricity fee exemptions and free water and warehouses, describing it as “economic mismanagement.”
They further said that the current Congress government, despite receiving only ₹17,000 crore in RDG over the last three years, has maintained strict financial discipline, raised ₹26,683 crore from its own resources, borrowed ₹23,000 crore, and repaid ₹26,000 crore in interest and principal. The ministers criticized BJP leaders for walking out of all-party meetings and focusing on political gains instead of Himachal’s interests.
Congress emphasized that the present government is committed to fiscal responsibility and development, while accusing BJP leaders, including Anurag Thakur, of playing politics on critical financial issues affecting the state.
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