Himachal Pradesh Cabinet ministers have refuted the statement of former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur questioning the decision of the state government regarding the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) and allegedly ignoring the interests of the Kangra district in the Cabinet expansion.

In a joint statement issued here on Tuesday, Cabinet Ministers, Chander Kumar and Rohit Thakur, advised the Leader of the Opposition to desist from issuing baseless and malicious statements as the people of the state have completely rejected the BJP in the recently concluded general assembly elections.

They said that the people of the state had given a massive mandate in favour of the Congress Party and the state government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was committed to fulfilling all the promises made in the Congress Pratigya Patra-2022.

“It seems that Jai Ram Thakur is finding it difficult to adjust to his new role as leader of the opposition. He should instead compromise with the situation and humbly accept the mandate of the people of the state,” they added.

They said that due to the financial mismanagement and wasteful expenditure made by the previous BJP government, the economy of the state has completely derailed.

“The so-called double engine governments at the Centre and the state failed miserably and the state even did not succeed to get its dues from the Centre,” they charged.

The Cabinet Ministers said that the state government was committed to fulfilling all the ten guarantees and other election promises made by the Congress Party.

They said that the former Chief Minister must have some patience as the Congress Government has just taken over the reins of the state and would soon come into action-mode.

“The previous BJP Government at the fag-end of its tenure announced the opening and upgradation of over 900 institutions in the State with an eye on the general elections.  The state would require about Rs. 5000 crore for the smooth functioning of these institutions. The previous government did not make a provision of a single penny for the proper functioning of these offices,” they said, adding that all these institutions were opened and upgraded with the sole motive to woo voters without any budgetary provision and irrational thinking.

Both the ministers said that the present state government headed by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was committed to the equitable and balanced development of the state with a special thrust on those areas which have remained neglected due to one reason or another.