Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, March 21
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday presented a Rs 54,928-crore budget for the 2026-27 financial year in the state assembly, amid noisy protests from opposition BJP members.
Sukhu, who also holds the finance portfolio, used his fourth budget speech to accuse the BJP of failing to defend the state’s interests after the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant (RDG), which he said had put severe pressure on Himachal Pradesh’s finances.
“The opposition BJP has not sided with the state in these hard times and history will never forget them,” he said, prompting immediate protests from BJP legislators.
BJP members objected to the remark, raised slogans and entered the well of the House, forcing the Speaker to adjourn proceedings until 11:30am.
When the House resumed, BJP legislators briefly walked out while Congress MLAs remained seated. They later returned and continued sloganeering as Mr Sukhu carried on with his budget speech.
The chief minister said the withdrawal of the RDG would cost Himachal Pradesh Rs 8,105 crore annually. He also argued that comparisons between Himachal and states such as Uttarakhand and Assam were unfair, saying Himachal’s hilly terrain and limited resources made its financial situation unique.
Calling Himachal Pradesh the “lung of north India”, he said the state should receive a “green bonus” for protecting forests and water resources, rather than losing central financial support.
Sukhu also said global conflicts were beginning to affect the state economy, pointing to rising LPG prices linked to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war.
As part of the budget, he announced a Rs 500-crore provision to complete pending development works, saying a list of 300 unfinished projects had been prepared.
The 2026-27 budget is around Rs 4,000 crore smaller than last year’s outlay of Rs 58,514 crore.
