Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a public gathering in Odisha’s Jharsuguda on Saturday, accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of obstructing relief measures from the Centre by imposing additional taxes on fuel and cement. He alleged that “wherever Congress governs, it loots the people.”
PM Modi said, “When the Centre reduced GST rates, prices came down across the country, but Congress denied this relief to the people of Himachal. When we cut fuel prices, Congress governments imposed their own taxes to keep prices high. Even after we reduced cement rates, Himachal’s Congress government added its own tax. The relief meant for the people was blocked by a plundering Congress government standing like a wall.”
He contrasted this with the BJP’s governance model, saying the party ushered in an era of “double savings and double income” since 2014 by ending Congress’s “loot system.”
Responding to PM Modi, Himachal CM’s Principal Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan welcomed the GST cuts but accused the BJP of imposing a “Jaziya tax” for eight years, collecting ₹55 lakh crore. He argued that the Centre failed to pass on the benefits of lower global crude prices to the public and credited Rahul Gandhi for consistently pushing to reduce GST slabs.
At the event, PM Modi also highlighted development projects worth over ₹60,000 crore in Odisha, including:
- Launch of BSNL’s indigenous 4G network, with over 97,500 towers, many serving remote and border villages.
- Approval of two semiconductor units for the state.
- 50,000 pucca houses sanctioned for poor families in Odisha under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana.
- Boosts to healthcare with super-speciality hospital upgrades in Berhampur and Sambalpur.
- Foundation stones for railway projects and expansion of eight IITs.
The Prime Minister stressed India’s push for self-reliance, citing a ₹70,000 crore package for shipbuilding as key to trade, technology, and security.
With Navratri ongoing, PM Modi also sought blessings from Maa Samalei and Maa Ramachandi Devi. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi praised him for launching welfare schemes like the Subhadra Yojana, benefitting one crore women with annual assistance of ₹10,000.
The event was attended by Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, with several chief ministers, including Maharashtra’s Devendra Fadnavis, Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Uttar Pradesh’s Yogi Adityanath, joining virtually.
