Modi Government Retaliates Against Failed Operation Lotus by Ignoring Himachal in Budget: Baldev Thakur

Shimla, July 28 – Baldev Thakur has accused the central Modi government of neglecting Himachal Pradesh in the budget as a form of retaliation for the failure of Operation Lotus. He suggested that instead of blaming Himachal’s Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, BJP leader Jairam Thakur should question the central government about its discrimination against the state.

Thakur emphasized that BJP leader Jairam Thakur’s criticism of Chief Minister Sukhu for not attending the NITI Aayog meeting is misplaced. According to Thakur, the Modi government has consistently overlooked non-BJP ruled states in the budget and failed to provide the necessary funds from various allocations on time. In such a scenario, attending the NITI Aayog meeting would have been futile for Chief Minister Sukhu.

Thakur pointed out that since the formation of the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh 17 months ago, the central government has allocated a total of ₹19,282 crores to the state. This includes ₹7,777 crores from the Finance Commission, ₹28.99 crores from the Amrit Mission, and ₹688 crores from central taxes. In contrast, during the previous BJP government’s tenure, Himachal Pradesh received more funds in every category, highlighting the central government’s step-motherly treatment towards the current Congress government and the state’s general public.

Thakur argued that Himachal Pradesh should have been granted special status, doubling the financial aid from all sectors. He criticized the central government for reducing the state’s debt limit despite repeated appeals for assistance from Chief Minister Sukhu and other ministers following last year’s devastating natural disaster. Thakur also condemned the BJP MLAs for refusing to sign the proposal to grant special status to Himachal Pradesh, resulting in the central government discarding the proposal.

Baldev Thakur accused BJP leaders Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda, and Jairam Thakur of attempting to topple the Congress government through Operation Lotus by trying to buy Congress MLAs and holding them captive. However, Chief Minister Sukhu thwarted these efforts. Thakur also noted that the BJP pressured three independent MLAs to resign and offered them BJP tickets, but the people of Himachal Pradesh showed their support for the Congress by electing Congress MLAs in six out of nine by-elections, proving their backing for Sukhu’s government and its policies.