Shimla, Feb. 3 -- The Principal Media Adviser to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Naresh Chauhan, on Tuesday asked BJP MPs and leaders from Himachal Pradesh to clearly state whether they support or oppose the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant, saying its withdrawal would severely hamper the state's development.

Speaking to the media here, Chauhan described the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant as a "grave injustice" to hill states. He said that since Independence, successive Finance Commissions had recognised the difficult geographical conditions of hill states and introduced a system of revenue deficit grants to accelerate their development.

"This grant was periodically revised and increased, and the funds ...