“Directionless Budget, Rising Deficit”: Jairam Thakur

Slams Himachal Government; BJP Protests Entry Tax Hike

Shimla, March 21, 2026:
Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur strongly criticized the Himachal Pradesh Budget 2026–27, calling it “the most dull, disappointing, and directionless budget in the state’s history.” Addressing the media, he alleged that the Sukhu-led government has failed to present a visionary roadmap for development and has instead pushed the state towards financial instability.

Thakur claimed that the state’s fiscal deficit has been लगातार rising over the past few years, while capital expenditure has steadily declined, indicating a slowdown in development activities. He pointed out that the current budget of ₹54,928 crore is ₹3,586 crore less than the previous year, reflecting a contraction rather than growth. “Budgets are meant to show the way forward, but this one takes Himachal backwards,” he remarked.

He further accused the government of poor financial management and failing to effectively implement welfare schemes. Citing examples, he said that only a fraction of allocated funds under schemes like Kanyadaan Yojana, Shagun Yojana, and Mahila Samman Nidhi have been utilized. He also criticized the organic farming initiative, claiming it remains largely limited to advertisements with minimal benefits reaching farmers.

Meanwhile, during the Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, BJP legislators staged a strong protest both inside and outside the House against the recent hike in entry tax. Led by Jairam Thakur, the opposition accused the government of imposing an additional financial burden on traders and the general public.

The BJP warned that the increased entry tax on commercial vehicles would raise transportation costs, leading to inflation and higher prices of essential commodities. The party also cautioned that the move could strain trade relations with neighboring states, particularly Punjab, potentially resulting in retaliatory taxation and impacting interstate commerce.

The opposition demanded immediate rollback of the tax hike, warning that it would intensify its protest from the streets to the Assembly if the decision is not reconsidered.