Ministers Shri Anirudh Singh and Shri Vikramaditya Singh have advised the former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Shri Jai Ram Thakur to restrain from issuing baseless and unwarranted statements in a bid to remain in news.
They said that it was surprising the former Chief Minister was time and again raising the issue of de-notification of the institutions opened by the previous BJP Government in the fag-end of its tenure with an eye on the general assembly elections. They said that all these institutions were opened and upgraded with a sole motive to woo voters without any budgetary provision and irrational thinking. They said that the State Government has decided to wind up such institutions and all these would be reviewed and if found to be viable and if required would be opened after making proper budget provision.
The Ministers said that the present Congress Government has inherited a debt burden of over Rs. 75000 crore due to the financial mismanagement of previous BJP State Government. They said that not only this the BJP Government also have left financial liabilities of about Rs. 5,000 crore and thus the BJP leaders have no moral right to question the decision of the State Government as it was due to the unmindful and unproductive expenditure of the previous State Government that the present State Government has been forced to take this harsh decision to enhance VAT on diesel in the State.
Shri Anirudh Singh and Shri Vikramaditya Singh said that after crushing defeat in 2021 Mandi Parliamentary by elections and by-elections to three assembly seats i.e. Arki, Jubbal-Kotkhai and Fatehpur the then State Government reduced VAT on Petrol and diesel by Rs 7 per litre. He said that the BJP Government was forced to take this decision in panic after its 4-0 defeat in these by-elections.
The Ministers said that the allegation of the former Chief Minister regarding appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries was also uncalled for. They reminded the former Chief Minister about the appointment of a large number of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen in various Boards and Corporations. ‘All the dejected and rejected second-line leaders were appointed Chairmen and Vice Chairmen with a sole objective to adjust them by allotting plum postings,’ they added.
Shri Anirudh Singh and Shri Vikramaditya Singh said that the first and the foremost task before the State Government headed by Chief Minister Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was to bring back the derailed economy back on the track, create resources of income generation and cut down unproductive expenditure.
The Ministers said that the former Chief Minister has no right to speak about the internal matter of the Congress Party. They advised the former Chief Minister to focus on his own party as Congress was a grand old party and know how to function in the larger interest and welfare of the people of the State.
Shri Anirudh Singh and Shri Vikramaditya Singh said that the former Chief Minister has no right to talk about the induction of Ministers in the State Cabinet as it was the sole prerogative of the Chief Minister. They said that ministerial berths have been provided taking into consideration of all aspects and due representation would be given to Kangra and other districts at the appropriate time.
They said that still the present State Government was not resorted to politics of vendetta and vengeance, unlike the previous BJP Government that took decisions with ulterior political motives.
They advised the former Chief Minister to have patience and try to respect the mandate of the people of the State. They said that the people of the State have reposed full faith in the present State Government headed by Chief Minister Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and would leave no stone unturned to live up to their expectations.
