“If Debt Didn’t Need Repayment, 3 Lakh HP Youth Would Have Jobs”: Jogindernagar BJP MLA Prakash Rana Slams Govt in Vidhan Sabha.

SHIMLA:

In a scathing attack on the state government during the ongoing Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha session, the BJP MLA from Jogindernagar Prakash Rana raised serious concerns over the mounting debt crisis, rising unemployment, and growing reliance on liquor revenue to run the state economy.

Highlighting the grim employment scenario, the legislator pointed out that the government workforce has shrunk significantly compared to 2010–11, when the state employed nearly 2 lakh personnel. Today, educated youth holding degrees are left waiting endlessly for batch-wise recruitment, with many crossing the age of 45 without securing a job. Reminding the ruling party of its election promise to provide 5 lakh jobs, the MLA urged the government to come clean with the public if it cannot deliver on its commitments.

Instead of creating meaningful employment for Gen-Z—the future of Himachal Pradesh—the government was accused of pushing the youth toward alcohol, cannabis, and lotteries. Questioning the sustainability of funding the state through excise duty, the legislator highlighted alarming consumption figures, stating that over 8 lakh bottles of liquor are consumed daily in the small state. Furthermore, it was alleged that only 40% to 50% of this revenue reaches the state treasury, while the remaining 60% flows into the black market.

Addressing the fiscal health of Himachal Pradesh, the MLA questioned why the state treasury remains empty despite relentless borrowing. Had the massive debt burden not required repayment, the state could have easily provided stable jobs paying Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 per month to 2 to 3 lakh unemployed youth, preventing them from taking to the streets.

Concluding the address on a moral note, the MLA stated that no one can escape the law of karma, warning that the government will ultimately have to account for its actions and governance failures.