CHAMBA/SHIMLA: The blame game has broken out in Himachal Pradesh over disaster relief spending, with the Opposition BJP accusing the Sukhu government of misleading people and failing on restoration work even as the Centre announced a special relief package.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, state BJP chief Dr. Rajiv Bindal, and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan on Thursday mounted a fierce attack on the state government in Chamba, claiming that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had spent “barely ₹300 crore” out of the ₹4,500 crore package he had promised.
They lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s September 9 visit to Kangra—where he announced a ₹1,500 crore relief package—as proof of the Centre’s commitment.
“This is the first time in Himachal’s history that a Prime Minister visited the state in the middle of such a disaster and directly announced a package. Yet the state government continues to present false figures,” Thakur charged.
The BJP leaders said 371 lives have been lost, 41 people are still missing, and large parts of Chamba, Kullu, and Manali remain cut off with power, water, and road links badly damaged. The apple economy is ruined as roads still await restoration, he said.
“Contractors have stopped giving machinery because bills are unpaid. This raises serious questions on the credibility of the state government,” Thakur said.
They also accused Sukhu of neglecting the Assembly session during the peak crisis, travelling to Delhi and Bihar for political engagements instead.
“When the state was reeling under disaster, the Chief Minister was busy elsewhere,” Thakur alleged.
The Opposition reminded that the Centre has already released ₹491 crore under NDRF/SDRF and accused the Congress of running the state “on central funds” while failing to deliver timely relief to affected families.
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