Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Discusses Congress Leadership and Disaster Relief Efforts

Leadership Decisions in Congress

On Saturday, Chief Minister Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh stated that he has not proposed any names for the position of state Congress president to Rajni Patil, who is in charge of the party in the region.

After a meeting with Patil, Sukhu informed reporters that the decision regarding the selection of the state Congress leader rests with the party's central leadership. He emphasized that his discussions would focus solely on future programs and issues that need to be addressed in the assembly and among the public.

Support for Party Ideology

Sukhu remarked, 'For me, everyone is equal. The entire party believes in the Congress ideology, and we will support any appointments made by the central leadership.'

Referring to discussions held in the assembly regarding disaster relief, he pointed out the discrepancies between what the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims and their actual actions.

Claims on Financial Assistance

He asserted, 'The BJP demanded a discussion under Rule 67, which we agreed to. We debated this issue for four days, but when it was time for a response, BJP members left the house.'

Sukhu also claimed that they have yet to receive any financial aid from the central government. 'We are providing relief from our own resources, offering seven lakh rupees for house construction, 70,000 rupees for goods, and 50,000 rupees for livestock losses, which is significantly higher than what other states provide.'

Request for Special Relief Package

The Chief Minister mentioned that he would communicate with the central home secretary in Shimla to request a substantial special relief package for the state, which is grappling with extensive damage due to continuous rainfall, cloudbursts, and sudden floods.