CM assures to continue OPS and other welfare Schemes despite RDG withdrawal

· BJP abstained themselves from presentation on RDG willfully

· BJP misused RDG during their tenure in freebies rather than building capital infra

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while addressing the media today, reaffirmed the State Government’s unwavering commitment to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and various public welfare initiatives, despite the Central Government’s withdrawal of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG). The Chief Minister emphasized that the government would continue these schemes by mobilizing its own resources, ensuring that the rightful entitlements of the people remain protected under all circumstances.

Refuting the opposition’s stance, the Chief Minister stated that had the BJP been in power, they would have replaced the OPS with the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), effectively ending the security currently enjoyed by government employees. Drawing from his own background in a common family, he expressed a deep understanding of the concerns of the general public and vowed that his administration would never compromise on their interests. He noted that while the Finance Department manages the technicalities of the state’s fiscal health, the government’s priority remains the enhancement of resources to drive the state forward.

Chief Minister Sukhu leveled allegations against the previous BJP government led by Jai Ram Thakur, accusing it of gross financial mismanagement between 2018 and 2021. He pointed out that during its five-year tenure, the previous government received a substantial Rs. 54,000 crore as RDG and Rs. 16,000 crore as GST compensation. However, he alleged these funds were misused to favor contractors and cited the expenditure of nearly Rs. 1,000 crore on the construction of buildings that currently stand vacant and underutilized.