Mandi: Kangana Ranaut, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Mandi, has once again directed her ire at the Sukhu-led government of Himachal Pradesh, accusing it of exacerbating the state’s financial woes. Speaking in a village near Shimla during the launch of a BJP membership campaign, Ranaut claimed that Chief Minister Sukhu’s administration is mismanaging disaster funds and misallocating loans.
Ranaut did not hold back in her criticism, asserting, “Everyone knows that corruption is rampant, and Congress-ruled state governments have hollowed out their states.” She emphasized the detrimental impact of natural disasters on the region, stating that the current government has set Himachal back by years. “We must remove such a government,” she urged the audience.
Specifically targeting the handling of disaster relief funds, Ranaut alleged that the money intended for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is instead being diverted to what she termed the “Sonia Relief Fund.” She further took aim at the state’s Public Works Department Minister, Vikramaditya Singh, lamenting the poor condition of roads. “People are fed up with potholes,” she declared, highlighting the lack of action to rectify the situation.
Ranaut also discussed the broader financial struggles facing Himachal Pradesh, including delays in salaries and pensions, alongside cuts to sports facilities in primary schools. She described this as a “conspiracy” against the future of the state’s children and promised to establish a sports complex in Mandi if given the opportunity.
The backdrop of these comments is a significant financial crisis in Himachal Pradesh, where rising revenue expenditure has created turmoil. While the BJP has placed the blame on CM Sukhu, Sukhu himself has countered, pointing fingers at the previous BJP administration for the current conditions, referencing the decreasing revenue deficit grants received from the Finance Commission.
As the political landscape heats up, Ranaut’s passionate appeals for change and her pledges for development aim to galvanise public support for the BJP in a state grappling with financial uncertainty.