Himachal Pradesh has openly voiced its discontent with the Central Government’s recently announced disaster aid of ₹2,006 crore, calling it grossly inadequate and delayed. Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan, launched a scathing criticism of the Centre’s handling of the matter, labeling the relief package as both “too little and too late.” His remarks reflect growing frustration in the state administration over what it sees as political apathy from the Union Government toward a non-BJP ruled state still grappling with the aftermath of a catastrophic natural disaster.
Chauhan pointed out that the state’s Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), meticulously compiled following last year’s severe flooding and landslides, had estimated the total losses at around ₹10,000 crore. However, the Centre’s approved package includes only ₹1,500 crore as the actual central share, with the rest being sourced from the state’s own funds. He termed this gesture a “symbolic response,” far removed from the ground reality and requirements of Himachal Pradesh’s people, many of whom continue to face hardships months after the tragedy.
He underscored that the Himachal Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, did not wait for political favours or federal handouts. Instead, the state proactively announced a ₹4,500 crore disaster relief and rehabilitation package from its own coffers, despite resource constraints. According to Chauhan, this move underscored the state’s commitment to its citizens and its resilience in the face of bureaucratic delays and political indifference.
The delay in allocating disaster relief — arriving more than a year after the calamity — has raised questions about the sincerity and urgency with which the Centre approaches crises in opposition-ruled states. Chauhan accused the BJP-led Union Government of showing a biased and discriminatory attitude towards Himachal Pradesh simply because it elected a Congress government. He asserted that such political prejudices have no place in a federal democracy, especially in the context of humanitarian assistance.
He further criticized the role of Himachal’s BJP MPs for their passive stance and inability to advocate effectively for the state’s interests in New Delhi. “They have failed to pursue the issue in a befitting manner and are misleading the Centre instead of addressing the real needs of the people,” Chauhan said, adding that the Union Government’s conduct has left Himachal feeling like an “orphaned state.”
Chauhan also condemned the recent protest by BJP workers in Paonta Sahib, accusing them of using provocative and communally charged slogans that threaten to disturb the peace in an otherwise harmonious region. He characterized the protest as a political stunt meant to divert attention from the BJP’s failures and to inflame public sentiment for electoral gain.
According to Chauhan, the BJP is engaged in a campaign of distraction and disruption, using petty issues to destabilize the social fabric of the state. “This is not leadership. It is political opportunism at its worst,” he remarked.
As Himachal Pradesh continues to rebuild from the devastation, its leaders are demanding not just funds but fairness, empathy, and constitutional responsibility from the Centre. Chauhan concluded that disaster relief must rise above political considerations, stressing that the people of Himachal Pradesh deserve timely support, not token gestures or delayed favours.
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