BJP Questions Congress Government’s Seriousness on Economic Issues

Una: BJP State Vice President Sanjeev Katwal has raised serious questions about the Congress government’s commitment to addressing economic challenges. Katwal claims that the Congress government’s inefficiency is evident from the recent notification issued by the cabinet sub-committee on resource mobilization. The notification, dated July 12, 2024, was published in the state government’s electronic gazette on July 20, 2024, but it set a deadline of July 15, 2024, for the committee to submit its report. This unrealistic timeline highlights the administration’s lack of seriousness, according to Katwal.

The sub-committee, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and including Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar, Industry Minister Harshvardhan Singh Chauhan, and TCP Minister Rajesh Dharmani, has yet to hold a meeting. The BJP alleges that favoritism in awarding cabinet ranks and the resulting high costs, including expenses for vehicles, housing, offices, and staff, further strain the state’s finances.

Katwal also criticized the appointment of six Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS), adding that avoiding such appointments could save significant expenses. He referenced a previous committee led by Vidya Stokes, which had recommended cost-saving measures, though its report was not made public. Upon taking office, the current government, led by Sukhvinder Singh, released a white paper on the state’s financial situation, which also involved Deputy CM Agnihotri.