Just like other Congress-ruled states in the country, Himachal Pradesh seems to be reeling from the fallout of the famed ‘Khatakhat politics’ as it faces a dire economic crisis as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced deferring his salary, allowances and other benefits for the next two months citing financial crisis. However, the government is also mulling over legalising the limited use of cannabis for ‘medicinal purposes’ to improve the state’s finances.
“The CM has taken a good initiative to overcome the financial troubles we are facing in the state. We are trying to strengthen the resources in the state – be it through water resources or our excise policy and mining policy. We are also trying to legalise cannabis for limited purposes like for medical purposes,” Himachal Pradesh minister and Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh said.
#WATCH | Shimla | Himachal Pradesh Minister & Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh says, "The CM has taken a good initiative to overcome the financial troubles we are facing in the state. We are trying to strengthen the resources in the state – be it through water resources or our… pic.twitter.com/3ZiixxuVJK
— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2024
Earlier, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukku announced that he and his cabinet has decided to forgo 2 months’ salary as a symbolic measure to redress state’s fiscal failure
“After discussing in the cabinet, all the members of the cabinet decided that until the state sees good improvement in the coming times, we will not take any salary, nor TA, nor DA for 2 months… This is just a small amount, but it is a symbolic amount,” Sukku said.
‘Khatakhat politics’ taking its toll on Karnataka
A similar economic crisis has beset the Congress government in Karnataka, with senior leaders and ministers often admitting a lack of funds for implementing developmental schemes as the bulk of the state exchequer goes into fulfilling the party’s poll guarantees.
Consequently, the Karnataka government has hiked the prices of essential commodities such as water, milk, electricity, etc. to foot the bill of the party’s freebie politics.
Last week, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated that the water tariff must be increased to mitigate the financial losses currently faced by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB). Shivakumar lamented that the state has no choice but to raise prices by 20-30% to ensure the survival of the water utility.
“Citizens scold us when water does not come, they hound us with messages and calls,” said Shivakumar. “Let anyone criticise me, I’m going to increase the water tariff in Bengaluru, or else we won’t survive.”
Similarly, in July this year, the Karnataka government had raised milk prices by Rs 3 per litre, months after Congress party fought the elections on the Amul vs Nandini plank, asserting that the BJP government in the state was allowing Amul to sell fresh milk and curd in Bengaluru, which it claim would hurt the business of the local brand Nandini, owned by Karnataka Milk Federation.
