BJP Alleges Congress Diverting Central Funds for Salaries

Shimla, February 23 – BJP leader and former state general secretary Trilok Jamwal has accused the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government of diverting central funds meant for development projects to pay state employees’ salaries.

Jamwal cited a statement by Congress MLA Sanjay Awasthi, who allegedly admitted that the state government transferred central funds from state banks to the treasury. He claimed that BJP legislators worked hard to secure these funds from the central government for major projects like railways and four-lane highways, but instead of utilizing them for development, the Congress government is misappropriating them for salaries.

According to Jamwal, ₹500 crore from 11 banks in Bilaspur district was set to be transferred, with ₹352 crore already moved to the treasury. He further alleged that the government plans to collect ₹1,200 crore this month and another ₹2,700 crore next month from state banks, all of which will be used for employee salaries instead of welfare or infrastructure projects.

He emphasized that the “unspent funds” transferred by the Congress government belong to the central government, and their usage is contingent upon the state depositing its share. He warned that failing to utilize these funds for development would hamper Himachal Pradesh’s progress.