Naresh Chauhan Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister said in a statement issued here today that the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will take effective steps to strengthen the economic resources of the state and the opposition has nothing to worry about. While countering the statement of former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur regarding helicopter flights, Chauhan said that his concern about this has now come to the fore and we are thankful to him for this. He said that if such thoughts had entered his mind five years ago, the state and its people would have been better off. He said that the government helicopter was not used at all on the occasion of the swearing-in ceremony of the present State Government and remained stationed at Annandale during this period.
In contrast, private choppers were used for VVIPs during that time. He said that it is ridiculous to comment on the financial management by the former Chief Minister who himself has pushed the State into the debits of about Rs. 25,000 crore during his tenure. He said that the priority of the present State Government headed by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is very clear and the government is taking appropriate steps to reduce extravagance and austerity. He said that it is not even a week since the formation of the government and Jai Ram Thakur should keep patience and wait only then he will get to see the strong leadership, dedication and devotion of Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu toward welfare of the State and its people.