Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has strongly criticized the government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, alleging that several budget promises remain unfulfilled even after three years in power.
Thakur stated that despite the passage of three years, the Congress government has failed to implement even the announcements made in its first budget. He claimed that many schemes exist only on paper, while others are repeatedly announced in successive budgets without any visible progress on the ground.
Accusing the government of misleading the public with false guarantees, Thakur said the same pattern is being repeated inside the विधानसभा, where “false promises” are being presented in the budget speeches. He emphasized that commitments made in the budget must be fulfilled, but dozens of schemes announced by the current government are yet to be implemented.
He further said that the people of the state and the BJP expect the Chief Minister to clarify why promises made in the previous three budgets remain incomplete before presenting the fourth budget.
Highlighting specific examples, Thakur pointed out that the government had promised a subsidy of ₹25,000 for electric scooters to 20,000 meritorious female students in its first budget, but the scheme has seen no progress. Similarly, announcements such as the development of six green corridors, establishment of model health institutions in every constituency, and PET scan facilities in Chamba, Nahan, and Hamirpur have not materialized.
He also criticized the government for imposing an environmental cess of ₹6 per unit on electric charging, despite promoting green initiatives. According to him, promises made to farmers, horticulturists, athletes, women, tribal communities, and youth regarding employment and self-reliance have largely remained on paper.
Thakur added that the Sukhu government presented budgets worth ₹63,712 crore in the first year, ₹75,496 crore in the second year, and ₹58,343 crore in the third year (excluding supplementary budgets), totaling approximately ₹2.2 lakh crore over three years. Additionally, the government has taken loans exceeding ₹45,000 crore during this period.
He questioned that despite such large budget allocations and heavy borrowing, the failure to implement announced schemes raises serious concerns about the government’s intent, policy, and functioning. The public, he said, deserves answers on why these schemes were not launched and where the allocated funds have gone.
