Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, February 3
A senior aide to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Centre’s decision to end the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), accusing the party of indulging in political rhetoric instead of defending the state’s interests.
Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media Adviser to the chief minister, said the withdrawal of the RDG had caused significant financial damage to Himachal Pradesh, a special category state that relies heavily on central support. He criticised BJP leaders for, in his words, “defending the Centre rather than standing up for the people of Himachal”.
Chauhan said the 15th Finance Commission had provided the state with revenue deficit grants worth nearly ₹37,000 crore, helping it maintain fiscal stability. He also recalled that after the 14th Finance Commission ended, an interim arrangement during a delay in the 15th Commission’s report had seen ₹11,431 crore released to states under the previous BJP-led state government.
According to Chauhan, the discontinuation of the RDG would severely affect Himachal Pradesh’s financial stability, the delivery of essential public services and long-term development investment. He described the Union Budget as “anti-people, anti-farmer and anti-Himachal”.
He added that inclusive national development was not possible by ignoring hill states, and urged BJP leaders to set aside politics and raise the issue with the central government.
