Shimla, Dec 26
Bit agitated, but undeterred on the allegations of opposition Congress, Jai Ram Thakur led BJP government aims at working for come back of party in 2022 general elections focusing of equitable development of all sections and areas in the state.
This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday on the eve of three year completion of his government at a media conference here.
Thakur has said that his government will focus on completion of all projects initiated in his tenure, besides, vigorously pursuing the on going schemes and programmes those have been lagged behind due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Thakur refuted allegations of the Congress leaders that no development was made in state and said he dedicated over Rs 600 crore developmental projects in the assembly constituencies of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, his son Vikrmaditya Singh and leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri. He has said that his aim is not appease the opposition leaders, but to provide development benefits to people in the state without discrimination.
Thakur spelling out the report card of his government on completing three years in power on December 27, has said his government did not pursue the path of political vendetta and discrimination.
Thakur stated, “I have stopped this negative political culture and have ensured equal development of all 68 assembly segments of state.”
Thakur said that people have reposed faith and confidence in the BJP governments at the Center and State which was evident from the record win and sweep of Lok Sabha, and by-elections of Assembly seats, and claimed that during panchayats raj and urban local bodies polls, BJP will again get the support of the electorate.
Thakur has further said that his government has ensured development of state on priority, with the active support of the NDA government at the Center led by Narendra Modi. He extended his gratitude for approval of AIIMS at Bilaspur, opening of Atal Tunnel and clearing projects over 10,000 crore other projects for this hilly state.
Thakur has further said that bulk drug park and some other mega projects are expected to be allocated to state that would generate employment opportunity to 15,000 people with expected investment of Rs 10,000 crore and turnover of Rs 70,000 crore.
Thakur has claimed despite loss of a year due to COVID-19 pandemic, the pace of development in this hilly state remains unmatched since formation of Himachal Pradesh.
Thakur has said that in last 3 years his government has taken many new initiatives like
Jan Manch, CM helpline, Himcare, CM medical assistance fund, Sahara scheme for bedridden patients, Grihani Suidha yojana and Mukhyamantri Swablambhan Yojana beside many others that has benefitted the poor and downtrodden sections of society the most.
On the questions of opposition Congress about the loans being taken by the BJP government, bouncing back with blame game Thakur said that when his government assumed the charge in 2017, his government inherited debt burden of Rs 48,000 crore and in this financial year itself his government is repaying the liabilities of previous regimes to the tune of Rs 7,870 crore. He has asked the Congress to tell people of the state what development it had ensured by taking such huge loans.
He made it clear that government was seeking loans as per need and necessity. He has said that during current financial year his government has taken loan of Rs 4,000 crore.
The Chief Minister further said that during Covid-19 pandemic, state suffered huge revenue losses. He said that during the first quarter revenue loss was 54% that gradually decreased to 37% in second quarter and with opening of economic activities this loss further reduced to 11% in third quarter as of today and ridiculed the Congress for questioning the state government on COVID-19 pandemic irrespective of the fact that no government across the world equipped so fast to face such a massive epidemic. Thakur has said that Congress ruled Himachal Pradesh for 50 years equipped hospitals with only 60 ventilators, and now there 600 ventilators in the state were available in the hospitals.
Thakur asked if the Congress leaders of state have any formula to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, why they did not share in Congress ruled states like Maharashtra and Punjab.
