Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday criticised the NDA Government at the Centre for not fulfilling the promises made to the people of the country during the lok Sabha elections and also expressed his concern on misuse of the Central investigating agencies against the Chief Ministers of Congress ruled States.
Addressing a public rally in Bilaspur, he said false promises were made to the people of the country in the name of 'Achhe Din' by BJP and its allies which was a distant dream to come true. "Before the lok Sabha elections, repeated promises were made to the people of the country by Narendra Modi that all black money would be brought back from the Swiss Banks and a sum of Rs15 lakh each would be deposited in the banks in the name of every citizen of India. But now people of the country were feeling cheated as not even a single penny had been deposited in their accounts," he said.
Virbhadra Singh said scrapping of the Planning Commission for allocating budget to the States was not in interest of the country, adding that the GoI had constituted the NITI Ayog, the functioning of which had remained a puzzle.
The Chief Minister said agriculture sector needed to be strengthened as the progress of the country rested upon strengthening of their socio-economic status. He said the prices of the essential commodities had been sky-rocketing and the rates of pulses had also increased manifold. However, the State Government was spending a sum of Rs250 crore for providing subsidy on ration to the consumers of the State which would continue in future too.
The Chief Minister also charged the Central Government of framing cases against the Chief Ministers of Congress ruled States.
"I am alone facing three inquiries at a time, by the Income-Tax Tribunal, by the Central Bureau of Investigation and thirdly by the Enforcement Directorate, but I am sure the truth would prevail in the end and efforts to de-throne me will not ever be fulfilled," he said, adding that he would face the inquiries with a brave heart and would come out clean and the dreams of the opponents will only remain a dream.
During his visit to Bilaspur, he laid the foundation stone of Malyavar drinking water scheme for the adjoining villages of gram Panchayat Malyavar in Bilaspur Sadar constituency of Bilaspur district. The scheme would be constructed with an outlay of Rs1.17 crore and a sum of Rs1.87 crore would also be spent on construction of Check Dam. This would facilitate scattered population of around 1600 people of eight villages.
The CM also inaugurated the science block building of Government senior secondary school (girls) in Bilaspur completed with a cost of Rs1.9 crore. He also announced to upgrade the Government High Schools of Talwara, Dhar Tatol, Balh ka Ghat and Dasgaon to Government senior secondary schools and announced to start new bus service from Malyavar to Bilaspur.
Addressing the public meeting, he thanked the 14th Finance Commission for being liberal towards Himachal Pradesh and giving its due share in term of funding.
Virbhadra Singh said his Government had also announced in its budget speech to provide assistance to the General BPl families for construction of houses under Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojna. In its recent budget announcements the Government had enhanced the honorarium of daily wage workers from Rs180 to Rs200 and the honorarium of the panchayat pradhans and up-pradhans had also been increased.
He disapproved the concept of outsourcing and said that Government was against the concept of outsourcing of jobs.