SHIMLA: Before the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Mandi on Saturday, a war of words has started between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in Himachal Pradesh.
The Congress party claimed that the BJP government did nothing for the youth during the last five years and Modi is being brought to Mandi to address the youth rally and mislead them.
State BJP president Suresh Kashyap said that the double engine government has done all-round development of the state and the PM has taken care of every need of the state during his tenure of eight and a half years and after Mandi rally, the divided and demoralised Congress will not be visible in the political scenario of the state.
Meanwhile, AICC incharge for state Rajeev Shukla, while addressing media persons in Delhi on Friday, said that lakhs of youth are unemployed in the state and chief minister Jai Ram Thakur-led government did nothing to fill up the vacant posts.
He said that 68,500 posts are still lying vacant in the government departments.
He said that the state's contribution in armed forces jobs is 4 per cent and now by bringing the Agniveer Scheme, the Union government has deprived the Himachali youth of the armed forces jobs too.
He said that during his visit to Mandi, Modi should tell why lakhs of youth are unemployed in the state and why 68,500 vacant posts were not filled up by the BJP government.
He said that Modi should also question the state government about the Rs 70,000 crore debt burden.
He said that the state has recorded a loan increase rate of 51 per cent during the last five years.
He said that elections are going to be announced soon and the BJP government is busy holding rallies by spending public money.
He said that the Election Commission should look into this.
BJP state president Suresh Kashyap said that the Congress asks what the PM has done for Himachal Pradesh, then his answer is AIIMS in Bilaspur, Bulk Drug Park in Haroli, Una Medical Device Park, HP Shiva project, in Kisan Samman Nidhi of Rs 2,000 crore were distributed to 9.80 lakh farmers of Himachal through direct cash benefit, nine ropeways to make Himachal Pradesh a leader in tourism, International Airport in Mandi, allocation of budget to six medical colleges, Renuka dam project, Sawda Kudhu Hydro Project, satellite centre of PGI at IIM Sirmaur, Atal Tunnel, drinking water connection to 8.65 lakh families of Himachal Pradesh under Jal Jeevan Mission and Innovative urban transport, construction of ropeway from Tara Devi temple of Shimla to Dhingu Mata temple under Raju Marg project.
He said that two cities of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla and Dharamshala are under smart city scheme, Scheduled Tribe status was given to Hati community of Sirmaur while the financial requirements of Himachal have also been met in the last four and a half years.
He added financial assistance of Rs 1, 09, 618 crore has been given and the Congress party still asks what the PM has given to Himachal.
