Shimla, Feb 6,
The political temperature in Himachal Pradesh soared on Tuesday as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched a direct and uncompromising attack on BJP MPs and MLAs, accusing them of “shielding Delhi at the cost of Himachal” over the scrapping of the Special Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG).
Calling the withdrawal of RDG a “body blow to a small hill state,” the Chief Minister said the silence — and in some cases defence — of BJP leaders from Himachal raises serious questions about where their loyalties lie.
“Are they standing with Himachal or merely echoing the Union Government’s line?” Sukhu asked bluntly.
‘Not Comparable to Revenue-Rich States’
The Chief Minister dismissed BJP’s comparison of Himachal with revenue-surplus states as “economically illiterate and politically convenient.” He said Himachal’s structural realities — limited industry, fragile mountain ecology, sparse population, high infrastructure costs, and disaster vulnerability — make such comparisons fundamentally flawed.
“Himachal is not Gujarat or Maharashtra. Equating a hill state with industrial giants is a deliberate distortion,” he asserted.
Sukhu underlined that the state already suffered a severe fiscal setback after GST implementation. Nearly Rs 3,000 crore annually in GST compensation ended in June 2022, squeezing state finances. Now, the discontinuation of RDG — estimated at around Rs 48,000 crore over the award cycle — has further tightened the noose.
“This is not routine budgeting. This is about survival of fiscal balance,” he said.
‘RDG Was Constitutional, Not Charity’
Rejecting BJP’s claim that enhanced tax devolution offsets the loss, Sukhu clarified that RDG was not a political favour but a constitutional mandate under Article 275(1).
“RDG is not alms. It is a structured mechanism to protect vulnerable states from fiscal collapse,” he said, warning that removing it weakens the very principle of cooperative federalism.
He cautioned that pushing hill states toward borrowing to maintain basic services would only deepen long-term debt distress.
‘I Met Them Four Times’
The Chief Minister revealed that he personally raised the matter multiple times with the Union Finance Minister and the 16th Finance Commission Chairman, submitting detailed representations about Himachal’s fiscal stress.
“Despite repeated meetings and data-backed submissions, Himachal’s concerns were brushed aside,” he alleged.
Direct Challenge to BJP Leaders
Taking aim at BJP MPs and state leaders who hailed the Union Budget as favourable, Sukhu said routine allocations cannot be showcased as special achievements.
“Every state receives budgetary allocations. The real issue is whether BJP leaders from Himachal oppose or defend the scrapping of RDG. They cannot have it both ways,” he said.
He accused BJP spokespersons of “camouflaging loss as gain” by highlighting tax devolution figures while ignoring the larger fiscal vacuum created by RDG withdrawal.
Political Battle Lines Drawn
With the state preparing to raise the issue politically and institutionally, Sukhu signalled that the matter will not fade quietly.
“This is about protecting Himachal’s rights under the Constitution. We will continue to press for justice,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s aggressive posture has now placed BJP leaders from the state in a tight corner — forced to either defend the Centre’s fiscal recalibration or publicly distance themselves from it.
The ball, Sukhu indicated, is now firmly in their court.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
