OP Choudhary Exposes His Own Government’s Development Claims: BJP Government’s Budget Provisions Are a Mere Paper Showcase, Even the Finance Minister Admits—13 Departments Are Unable to Spend Their Budgets
Raising serious questions on the financial and development policies of the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, senior spokesperson of the Pradesh Congress Committee, Surendra Verma, has strongly criticized the government over the issues raised by OP Choudhary. Verma stated that the BJP government’s claims of development are limited to paper, and the Finance Minister’s letter to his own ministers regarding the failure to spend the budget is clear evidence that the government is completely failing in developmental work.
The Finance Minister’s Letter: A Proof of Developmental Failure
In a letter addressed to his fellow ministers, the Finance Minister highlighted that 13 departments under capital expenditure were unable to utilize their allocated budgets, exposing the incompetence of the BJP government. Verma stated that this letter clearly reflects the lack of willpower and developmental plans within the government.
Thirteen departments under five ministers of the state are lagging in capital expenditure. These include key departments like Public Works, Health, Medical Education, Water Resources, Forest and Climate Change, Tribal Development, Backward Classes and Minority Welfare, Agriculture and Rural Development, among others. Construction work has come to a standstill, and payments to contractors and construction companies are not being made on time. The government is unable to even properly maintain roads, let alone construct new ones, and vital infrastructure projects such as new bridges, buildings, Anganwadi centers, schools, colleges, and hospitals have all been halted.
Impact on Public Services and Welfare Schemes
Surendra Verma stated that despite budget allocations, key departments associated with health, education, and welfare schemes are unable to spend the funds, which is negatively affecting public services and welfare programs. In a state like Chhattisgarh, where the conditions in education, health, and employment are already alarming, the failure to utilize budgets by these departments is a clear indication of the BJP government’s incompetence.
This letter from the Finance Minister highlights that the government neither has a clear development plan nor a strategy for proper utilization of the budget. The budget provisions have become mere paper showcases, while in reality, no concrete steps are being taken on issues related to public welfare and development.
Decline in Health Services
The senior Congress spokesperson pointed out that there is a severe lack of basic healthcare facilities in government hospitals, with even essential medicines being in short supply. Medicines for serious diseases like tuberculosis are missing from government hospitals. The financial assistance of ₹500 per month provided to TB patients for nutritional support was also discontinued under the BJP government’s tenure.
Moreover, hospitals offering treatment under the Ayushman scheme are struggling due to a lack of funds, leaving patients and their families running from pillar to post for treatment. Despite all this, the BJP government continues to boast about its so-called achievements through advertisements and promotions, while the ground reality is far worse.
False Development Claims and Financial Mismanagement
Verma stated that the Finance Minister’s letter makes it clear that the entire financial structure of the BJP government is weak and fragmented. On the one hand, the government makes a pretense of developmental work, while on the other, the Finance Minister himself acknowledges that several departments are unable to spend their budgets. This clearly shows that the government’s priority lies in publicity and false promises, rather than addressing the real issues of the people.
The government neither has sufficient resources for development projects nor the will to implement them. Unemployment benefits have been stopped in Chhattisgarh, irregular employees’ salaries have been withheld, and payments to contractors are pending. In such a scenario, the government is merely patting its own back through misleading advertisements in newspapers and on television.
Crisis in Sports, Education, and Welfare Schemes
Verma further added that sports and youth welfare, SC/ST welfare, and scholarship programs are severely impacted due to the BJP government’s policies. He accused the BJP government of withdrawing funds from these schemes and adjusting them into the Mahatari Vandana scheme. This not only exemplifies financial mismanagement but also reveals the government’s acute lack of resources.
The government has also failed to properly utilize the budget allocated for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes. This is a testament to the government’s insensitivity and incompetence. Tribal and backward communities, who were already deprived, are suffering further losses due to the policies of the BJP government.
Issues Faced by Contractors and Construction Companies
Construction work across the state has come to a halt. Contractors are not receiving payments on time, leading to severe financial distress. As a result, the construction of roads, bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure has been stopped. Contractors have stated that they will not take up new projects until their previous dues are cleared.
Verma emphasized that the BJP government’s policies have led to a complete breakdown of construction activities in the state. While the government pretends to be focused on development, the reality is that all public interest works have come to a standstill. The state’s development plans are hanging in the balance due to the government’s failure to make payments to contractors, and the public is bearing the brunt of this mismanagement.
Decline in Health Services and the Ayushman Scheme
Government hospitals in the state are struggling due to a lack of funds for treatment under the Ayushman scheme. Hospitals are unable to procure the necessary equipment and medicines for treatment. Poor and needy patients seeking treatment under this scheme are facing significant delays.
Verma stated that the situation of health services in the state is deteriorating day by day due to the BJP government’s policies. Patients relying on the Ayushman scheme are not receiving timely treatment, and hospitals are left scrambling for funds from the government.
The issues raised by OP Choudhary and the letter from the Finance Minister have made it clear that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh has completely failed in terms of development and welfare schemes. The budget provisions exist only on paper, while the public is not receiving any real benefit.
Senior Congress spokesperson Surendra Verma concluded by saying that the biggest example of the BJP government’s incompetence is that important departments are unable to spend their allocated funds. This proves that the government neither has a concrete plan for development nor is serious about public interest work. Instead of focusing on the real issues facing the people, the government is busy building its image through advertisements and promotions.
