Shimla: Leader of the opposition in Himachal Pradesh assembly, Jai Ram Thakur, on Saturday accused the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress govt of failing to fulfil its major election guarantees and attempting to mislead people through fresh announcements ahead of the next assembly elections.Addressing a news conference here, Thakur questioned the proposed Mukhya Mantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojna, asking why only a limited number of families were being covered when Himachal Pradesh has more than 18 lakh families.The former CM said the Congress had promised Rs 1,500 monthly assistance to all women aged 18 to 59 years in its first cabinet meeting in December 22, without mentioning eligibility restrictions. However, govt has now limited the benefit to 3.5 lakh women against an estimated 28 lakh in the eligible age group.He claimed that the original promise translated into an entitlement of Rs 72,000 per woman over 48 months and questioned the exclusion of the remaining 24.50 lakh women.Thakur pointed out that providing Rs 1,500 per month to even 3.50 lakh women would require approximately Rs 630 crore annually. He alleged there was no clear budgetary provision for this expenditure in the current financial year.The BJP functionary also targeted the state govt over its promise of 300 units of free electricity to every household, alleging that the Sukhu dispensation had failed to deliver the guarantee and even curtailed the earlier 125-unit relief introduced by the BJP govt.He said govt was announcing 300 units of free electricity for a limited number of eligible families while presenting it as fulfilment of its original guarantee. However, the fact remains that there are more than 18 lakh families in Himachal Pradesh.Thakur further questioned the status of various promises, including five lakh jobs in five years, milk procurement and cow dung purchases. He also alleged a four- to six-month delay in payments to dairy farmers.The LoP said the BJP would raise issues of corruption, drug abuse, law and order, private management of govt properties and deteriorating roads during the upcoming winter session of the legislative assembly starting Nov 16 in Dharamshala.He claimed the Sukhu govt’s latest announcement was an attempt to regain public confidence without delivering on earlier commitments.
