Una (Himachal Pradesh) [India], February 1 : Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Sunday strongly reacted to the central government's budget, calling it a direct "betrayal of Himachal Pradesh's interests".
He said that the budget has done an injustice to Himachal Pradesh and has completely ignored the special geographical and economic circumstances of the hill states.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that this attitude of the central government is contrary to the spirit of the federal structure, which will have a direct and serious impact on the state's development, welfare schemes, and financial stability.
Mukesh Agnihotri said, "The discontinuation of special grants given to hill states like the North East, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh will not only adversely affect the state's development works but will also pose serious challenges to public welfare schemes and financial balance."
The Deputy Chief Minister demanded that the central government reconsider the budget provisions and provide Himachal Pradesh with just and equitable budgetary support in accordance with its constitutional rights and actual needs.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Sunday expressed deep disappointment with the Union Budget. He stated that the absence of a provision for revenue deficit grants for Himachal Pradesh, despite its being a disaster-affected, hilly state, is extremely concerning.
The minister pointed out that the revenue deficit grant received by Himachal Pradesh under the recommendations of the Finance Commission has been steadily decreasing in recent years and has now been practically eliminated, whereas, given the state's financial situation and the heavy losses incurred due to natural disasters, support should have been increased, not reduced.
Vikramaditya Singh said that Himachal Pradesh's economy is already under severe strain, with heavy expenditure on salaries, pensions, interest payments, and debt servicing, coupled with a limited tax base and frequent natural disasters, further exacerbating the state's financial challenges.
"This issue is not about any single party, that is, Congress or the BJP, but is related to the long-term interests of Himachal Pradesh and its people," the minister said.
"In keeping with the spirit of the federal structure, it is essential that the central government recognise the specific circumstances of hilly and disaster-affected states and provide them with adequate financial assistance, setting aside political considerations," he added.
The Minister urged the central government to immediately reconsider the restoration of revenue deficit grants for Himachal Pradesh and provide a special financial package for disaster rehabilitation and infrastructure development, so that the state can effectively fulfil its responsibilities of reconstruction and development, and the economy of the hill state can be placed on a stable and strong foundation.