Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu criticised opposition BJP MLAs on Wednesday after they refused to support a government resolution seeking the restoration of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG). He also said that the resolution, passed in the state assembly amid heavy sloganeering, follows a recommendation by the 16th Finance Commission to discontinue the grant.

Speaking to the media, Sukhu said, "It is very unfortunate that BJP MLAs from Himachal Pradesh did not support a resolution seeking restoration of the Revenue Deficit Grant, which was given as a right under the Constitution by the Government of India. We wanted to fight for Himachal's rights collectively. I had even requested that we go together to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, keeping aside protocol, in the interest of the state. But today, when we raised this issue under Rule 102 after the 16th Finance Commission recommended discontinuation of the grant, they (opposition) chose not to stand with us."