No Growth in Budget Size for First Time in State’s History: Jairam Thakur
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March 17, 2025 | Shimla:
Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur has termed the Himachal Pradesh Budget 2025-26 as directionless and filled with lies. While addressing the media, he stated that for the first time in the state’s history, there has been no increase in the budget size.
Jairam Thakur criticized the Congress government for presenting a hollow budget with no vision for infrastructure development and no mention of any major state-level schemes. He revealed that the budget size has increased by only ₹71 crore (0.12%) compared to the previous year, which is unprecedented.
Thakur highlighted that only 24% of the budget allocation has been made for infrastructure development, which is significantly lower than the 39-43% allocated during the BJP government’s tenure from 2018-2023. He accused the Congress of misleading the public and taking credit for central government schemes.
He also attacked the four flagship schemes launched by the Congress government – Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, Indira Gandhi Pyari Bahna Sukh Samman Nidhi, Sukh-Ashraya Yojana, and Rajiv Gandhi Startup Scheme. He revealed that the government spent only ₹37.70 crore on these schemes while diverting central funds from Mission Vatsalya and shutting down the Mother Teresa Matri Sahayata Yojana. Shockingly, he claimed that the government spent more on advertisements than on the beneficiaries.
BJP’s Protest Against Law & Order Deterioration
Under the leadership of Jairam Thakur, BJP MLAs protested in the Assembly complex against the rising crime rate, gang wars, and Khalistani activities in the state. Thakur criticized the government for misusing CID to spy on opposition leaders while ignoring law and order issues.
