Shimla, March 23 Leader of the Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur, criticized the budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, saying that it offers absolutely nothing for the state, which is facing a financial emergency.
Speaking to the media after participating in the budget discussion, Thakur questioned, "How can Himachal become self-reliant in the face of budget cuts for social security pensions, education, rural development, agriculture, and roads?"
Describing the budget as a "bundle of lies" designed to mislead the state's people, he said that budgets for key departments have been cut by more than half over the past two years.
While budgets typically expand globally year after year, the Sukhu government's current budget remains stagnant—equivalent to the budget presented three years ago, he claimed.
He criticized the government and said that announcements regarding most schemes were made without adequate budgetary provisions, and not a single scheme announced over the past three years has been fully implemented.
Budgets allocated to key sectors are facing continuous cuts. Compared to the previous fiscal year, the budget for major sectors in 2025-26 saw a reduction of Rs 2,354 crore, a decline of 21 per cent. In the upcoming fiscal year, this reduction amounts to Rs 3,188 crore, a drop of 41.77 per cent compared to the current fiscal year, he added.
Capital expenditure has witnessed a continuous decline over the last three years, plummeting to Rs 3,089 crore, effectively being halved. The revenue deficit continues to widen across the last four budgets and has averaged around Rs 10,620 crore, Thakur said.
Thakur further stated that job opportunities within the state are steadily diminishing, and since the current Congress regime, job numbers have hit a 15-year low.
He said that the Sukhu government constantly criticizes the Central Government; however, over the last three years, the Centre's share in revenue receipts has stood at 56 per cent, 54 per cent, and 53.6 per cent respectively.
He pointed out that the proposed budget for the "Chief Minister's Farm Fencing Scheme" is merely Rs 10 crore, whereas his government had allocated a provision of Rs 40 crore.
Furthermore, the budget for the "Chief Minister's Himcare Scheme" has also been reduced. Instead of extending benefits to all BPL families, the chief minister has announced free electricity, up to 300 units, for only one lakh families.
He also questioned how the government could even contemplate a wage freeze. Under Article 360 of the Constitution, salaries can be reduced only in the event of a financial emergency.
He said that revenue from State Excise duties in 2026-27 is projected at Rs 3,174 crore, which is a decline from the Rs 3,256 crore recorded in 2025-26.
Development appears to be confined solely to the Nadaun and Dehra regions (chief minister and his wife's assembly constituencies), he remarked.