Planning Commission’s absence has created uncertainty: Virbhadra

Shimla, Dec 25 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Thursday slammed the central government for scraping the Planning Commission without consulting the states, and said this action has created uncertainty.

“The Planning Commission had played a great role in giving direction to the states. But the centre’s decision to scrap it without giving an alternate has created uncertainty,” he told reporters on the completion of two years of the Congress government.

He said the centre should spell out its policy for the states at the earliest in the absence of the Planning Commission.

But at the same time, the chief minister said the Narendra Modi government has allocated all funds to the state.

“So far, the state has not faced any problem in fund allocation. May be the allocation was done by the previous UPA government. We will get to know about the Modi government’s attitude towards the state after April next year.”

Taking a jibe at the main opposition BJP in the state, Virbhadra Singh, who is at helm for the sixth time, said it was the most irresponsible opposition party in the history of the state.

“The BJP has failed to play the role of a constructive opposition and had only tried to destabilise the government ever since the Congress came to power. It even boycotted the assembly in different sessions at the cost of public issues,” he said.

He flayed the BJP for blaming the government for the financial mess.

“The BJP is responsible for financial mess. My government is streamlining the finances. There is no financial crunch at present,” he said.

On the demand by BJP leader and two-time former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for a white paper on the financial position, Virbhadra Singh said: “We have no problem. But the white paper would only highlight the wrongdoings of the previous BJP regime too.”

Listing out his priorities, he said education and health were two vital sectors which would be strengthened further.