Centre Withheld ₹1,500 Crore and Stopped RDG, Says Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
During an event held in Nahan on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu accused the central government of ignoring the state’s rights. He said the Centre has not yet released the ₹1,500 crore announced for disaster relief to the state. He also alleged that stopping the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) has deprived Himachal of its rightful financial support.
The Chief Minister said that since the Congress government came to power in the state, Himachal Pradesh has faced disasters almost every year. Apart from natural calamities, the government has also faced political challenges but has tackled them firmly.
He stated that in 2025–26, the state witnessed a severe disaster in which around 9,000 houses were completely destroyed. The state government provided relief to the affected families, and those whose houses were destroyed received financial assistance of ₹8 lakh each.
Sukhu said the highest relief amount was distributed in Mandi district, which is the home constituency of Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur. He added that after the disaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state and announced ₹1,500 crore as relief assistance, but the amount has not yet been released.
He further said that February 1, 2026, was a “black day” in the state’s history when the Centre stopped the annual Revenue Deficit Grant of about ₹10,000 crore given to Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister noted that Himachal is a small state with limited sources of income. Despite providing water to Punjab’s fields, supporting the water needs of North India, and preserving forests, the state’s rights have not been properly recognized, he said. Sukhu added that he even offered to go to Delhi with BJP leaders to demand the state’s rights, but BJP MLAs continued raising slogans during the Assembly session.
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