Congress Accuses Central Government of Bias in Flood Relief Allocation

The Congress has accused the central government of displaying 'double standards' in flood relief fund allocation, alleging bias against Himachal Pradesh for not voting BJP. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget allocations, highlighting discrepancies between aid to BJP-ruled states and Congress-governed Himachal Pradesh.

The Congress on Sunday accused the central government of practising 'double standards' in the allocation of funds to flood-affected states, alleging it was taking 'revenge' on the people of Himachal Pradesh for not voting for the BJP in the last assembly elections.

Congress general secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, 'Yesterday, the self-anointed non-biological Prime Minister said that Viksit Bharat depends on Viksit states. If only he put the taxpayer's money where his mouth is!' Ramesh noted that despite repeated pleas from the Himachal Pradesh government to declare the 2023 floods a national calamity, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had refused.

Ramesh highlighted the discrepancies in fund allocations, pointing out that BJP-ruled states would receive grants, whereas Congress-governed Himachal Pradesh would only get loans through multilateral development assistance, further burdening the fiscally challenged state. He alleged this decision as a form of retaliation against the state's voters.

(With inputs from agencies.)