Shimla, Feb 16: Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla concluded his 50-page address to the Vidhan Sabha in under three minutes on Monday, opting to omit extensive sections regarding the 16th Finance Commission. The Governor read only the opening two paragraphs of the prepared text, which outlined the primary objectives of the three-day Budget Session.
The omitted portions of the address contained the state government’s formal objections to the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG). Governor Shukla stated that since several paragraphs of the speech pertained to a constitutional body, he would decline to read them aloud. By focusing only on the agenda for supplementary demands and the upcoming 2026-27 budget, the Governor avoided the more contentious financial arguments prepared by the administration.
“I would not like to read these sections as they involve a constitutional body,” Governor Shukla declared before the assembly.
The skipped segments detailed the historical importance of Article 275(1) of the Constitution, which provides grants to states struggling to balance revenue and expenditure. The government’s prepared remarks maintained that Himachal Pradesh has relied on these funds since 1952. The text affirmed that the removal of this assistance would create significant hurdles for special category states that face geographical limitations in revenue generation.
The prepared speech also noted that the loss of the RDG would impact vital sectors, including disaster management and social welfare programs. While the Governor moved quickly to conclude the formal proceedings, the omission of these fiscal concerns is expected to influence the upcoming legislative debates regarding the state’s development priorities and its relationship with central funding authorities.
