Himachal Cong stages statewide protests against the Centre

Accusing the BJP-led central government of backing out on its poll promises, state Congress today staged protests against the "anti-people" policies of the Centre.
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) today organised statewide protests against the Modi government and also submitted a memorandum to the Governor at Raj Bhawan here, and through Deputy Commissioners at the district level, listing the alleged failures of the central government during its one-year rule.
Congress workers led by state party chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Cabinet ministers Vidya Stokes, Thakur Kaul Singh, Col (Dr) Dhani Ram Shandil, Anil Sharma, PCC vice president Harsh Mahajan, chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Nand Lal, HP Youth Congress president Vikramaditya and other senior leaders took part in the protest.

Attacking the Modi government, Sukhu said the BJP-led NDA government was celebrating its first anniversary but it has failed to fulfil the major promises like implementation of 'One Rank, One Pension' (OROP), bringing back the black money stashed in foreign banks and was bent on passing the Land Acquisition Bill, "belying the hopes of the people, waiting for 'achhe din' ".
"The prices of petroleum products had tumbled by more than 50 per cent after the NDA came to power and dropped from USD 123 per barrel to USD 58 per barrel but the benefit was not passed on to the consumers," the HPCC president said.

"The Modi government provided a meagre sum of Rs 500 cr for OROP, while the special category status of Himachal Pradesh has been snatched and arrears worth Rs 4,250 cr on account of the state's share in hydropower projects under BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board) have not been cleared despite Supreme Court orders," he further said.
He alleged that the BJP government imposed cut on expenditure in social sectors which include Health, Education, Rural development and Women and Child department which is "against the concept of a welfare state".