SHIMLA : BJP Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur accused the Sukhu led Congress government of upsetting regional and caste formation and has burden the public by increasing VAT on petrol and diesel. Not only this, this is the first time in the State that Deputy Chief Minister has been appointed in Himachal Pradesh.
Addressing a press conference here today Thakur said the Congress government first started the "De-Notification Express" in Himachal Pradesh.
"Everything has come to standstill in state. The industry was stopped, then the cement plants were closed, but the Himachal Pradesh government did not make any effort to solve the cement issue", he charged.
For this, the Himachal Pradesh government should also constitute a committee and hold regular talks with the cement companies, he said.
It seems that Himachal Pradesh government is not determined to solve any problem, Thakur alleged.
Congress party has made three ministers from Shimla in Himachal, one each from Kangra and Kinnaur. Mandi, it disturbs the regional balance of Himachal, BJP leader alleged.
Congress has not made CPS and ministers from Mandi and Bilaspur districts, he said.
Jairam said that in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress party formed the cabinet in a hurry and this formation is unbalanced in terms of constituency and caste.
He said that Kangra has been completely sidelined from the point of view of CPS and ministers.
Why did the government make 6 CPS and what is the need for them, we are not able to understand, he asked.Making CPS has increased the financial burden on Himachal Pradesh because they will have to provide a protocol, many offices and facilities of ministerial status.
"I would like to draw your attention to the Government of Assam, Manipur and Delhi where the Supreme Court and the High Court have ruled against CPS", he claimed.
"Article 164/1A say that the appointment of CPS is wrong", Thakur claimed.
"When we ran our government for 5 years, we did not create a single CPS, it was a moral decision taken by us", Thakur cited BJP example.
"We feel that the minister and the CPS have been appointed by the Congress only to save their government, the Congress party is not concerned about the interest of the state".
In November 2021, BJP government gave a relief of Rs 12 in petrol and Rs 17 in diesel to the public, in which VAT rates were reduced from 7.50 to 8%, he said.
"But today, soon after assuming power, the Congress party has increased the VAT on diesel making it costlier by Rs.3.01. Now diesel will be available above Rs.86 in Himachal", he said adding that it will burden the common people in the state.
