Shimla, Aug 12,
In Himachal when the Congress led Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu government has realized that incentives and free services should rationalized to reach only those who are in need for it, mixed reactions are pouring in from opposition BJP stands. Where stalwart leaders like former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar ad former Speaker Dr Radha Raman Shastri echoed in favour of the State government’s decision, the BJP now in the helm of affairs under former CM Jairam Thakur, reacts against it.
Stalwart senior leaders like Shanta Kumar and Radha Raman Shastri endorse the Congress’s measures, praising the end of “freebies” or incentives for the affluent as a necessary step towards economic responsibility. They argue that the focus should be on providing targeted assistance to the poor rather than subsidizing services for those who can afford to pay. This perspective aligns with a broader national trend within the BJP, which advocates for reduced subsidies and a more targeted welfare approach.
Former Union Minister, and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar stated that it is not right to provide free electricity and water to wealthy individuals. He supported the decision to end these subsidies, emphasizing that the government should operate with the spirit of Antyodaya, providing substantial help to the poor and modest support to the middle class. Kumar also advocated for free health services and argued that the affluent should not receive such benefits.
Veteran BJP leader and former Speaker Radha Raman Shastri also backed the decision to stop free electricity and water, calling it a pragmatic step towards addressing Himachal Pradesh’s economic challenges. He suggested that the poor should receive concessions on utilities, while those who can afford to pay should be billed. Shastri highlighted that resources will only be generated if everyone contributes.
Though largely the rest of the BJP including former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, State chief Rajeev Bindal, all have termed the State Government’s decisions as betrayal with the electorate.
However Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu has defended these decisions by highlighting the financial imprudence of his predecessors, who, in the election year, expanded free services as a populist measure. Sukhu argues that the previous BJP government’s policies were not sustainable and have left the state’s finances in disarray. The Congress government’s recent policy shifts reflect a strategic pivot towards fiscal prudence, driven by the need to manage a strained budget. By ending free services for wealthier residents and considering reductions in women’s bus fare discounts, the administration aims to redirect resources towards essential services for economically disadvantaged groups.
Evident it is, that the Congress’s shift in policy is an attempt to restore fiscal stability but comes with the risk of alienating voters who benefited from the previous administration’s subsidies. Moreover, tough decisions have costed popular government in Himachal Pradesh. Noteworthy that former CM Shanta Kumar’s government also faced it. Due to tough decisions taken, the BJP government was forced to a mid-term poll in 1992 and Kumar was defeated in the arena. ‘Out of the frying pan and into the fire’ the challenge for the Sukhu government will be balancing economic reforms with public perception and political fallout.
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