Shimla, Dec. 12 -- Blaming the predecessor BJP government for the fiscal mess, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that the former BJP government in state left behind a debt of Rs.76,185 crore and the present government was compelled to take loans to repay its principal and interest.

"The BJP left behind a debt of Rs.76,185 crore and the present government was repaying its principal and interest. 70% of the additional loan taken by the present government was being used to clear the old debt. The present government was compelled to take loans merely to repay this liability. In addition, even the responsibility of paying employees' arrears amounting to Rs.10,000 crore was also left on the present governm...