Shimla, Aug 11 (UNI) Congress on Thursday blamed Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur for misuse of Himachal Pradesh government's helicopter alleging Thakur will be known as 'Helicopter vale CM or Hoarding vale CM' as he used the chopper for his shortest visit.
Congress' Kinnuar member Jagat Singh Negi, who took part in the No-Confidence Motion brought in the monsoon session of state assembly on Thursday, said that no tribal areas were visited by the Chief Minister for last four and half years.
However he made all other visits in the state helicopter far and near.
Negi said Thakur even visited Solan from Aanadale which should be done with the road.
He said that he never said that Chief Minister should not use the helicopter but those should be remote or far areas like the tribal belt, which was ignored by Thakur.
Thakur retorted that he was not the first state-head to do so. It was in 1993 when government hired the services of Helicopter first time and since then it has been used frequently by all Chief Ministers. The former Congress CM was using a big helicopter which was replaced by a small helicopter by this government, he added.
"Himachal Pradesh is the only state government that hires cheapest helicopter for ferrying chief minister," Thakur said.
He also defended himself against charges brought about whopping lending during his four and half hears of rule.
He said that he inherited a debt of Rs. 48,000 crore from his Congress predecessors. Debt of loan increased by 67 per cent during Virbhadra Singh's tenure.
Chief Minister who also holds the finance portfolio, said that total debt till today in his government increased to 64,904 crore at a hike of 35 per cent.
The chief minister said that there was no Covid outbreak during the Congress rule despite that they left behind a whooping debt.
Replying to the allegation of Congress members including leader of Opposition that total borrowing increased to Rs 85,000 crore, he said that members were not speaking on the facts and figures.
However Congress member challenged Thakur to come up with the white paper on the state finances.
On charges that BJP government could not reduce the burden of debt on the state, the chief minister said that during Prime Minister's visit to Himachal it is responsibility of state to spend on the public meetings of prime minister as he dedicated and unveil number of national projects to state.
He was replying to Ram Lal Thakur, who said that state government spends Rs 100 crore through Public Relation department after taking 1,500 Crore loan for universal development in the state. He said that before 2017, BJP promised to reduce the burden of debt on the state coffers but it increased as money was spend from state coffer to organize BJP meeting where party flags are being displayed.
Himachal Pradesh is gearing up for Assembly polls later this year
UNI ML ING