Shimla, Feb. 17 -- Himachal Pradesh governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Monday skipped reading the customary governor's address at the start of the budget session of the assembly. "I don't think I should read it," Shukla remarked, specifically pointing out that the prepared text contained "comments on a constitutional institution". While he addressed the House for barely a few minutes, he noted that the remainder of the speech detailed the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government's past and future achievements, which he felt the House should deliberate upon independently. The flashpoint appears to be the government's criticism of the 16th Finance Commission. The skipped portion of the address reportedly contained disparaging remarks regarding the commission's recommendation to discontinue the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) to Himachal Pradesh. Reacting to the standoff, chief minister Sukhu downplayed the governor's move, stating it was "not an exception" and that governors have skipped addresses in the past. However, he remained firm on the state's financial grievance. "This is not about the government; RDG is our right. Do not harm the rights of the state," Sukhu said. The CM further challenged the Centre's comparison of Himachal with 17 other states that also face grant adjustments. "Himachal cannot be compared to those 17 states. They have big projects and different economies. Himachal is a hill state where revenue generation is inherently limited due to natural resources and geographical constraints," he added. The state government has now called for a three-day session under Rule 102 specifically to deliberate on the RDG crisis. Sukhu expressed hope that the opposition BJP would "rise above party lines" and join the state government in approaching the Centre to restore Himachal's financial rights. The RDG previously constituted 12.7% of the state's budget, the second-highest dependency in the country. With the grant's discontinuation, the state faces an annual loss of Rs 10,000 crore, a blow that has crippled its ability to bridge the gap between resources and spending. The state's internal resources stand at about Rs 18,000 crore, while committed expenditures, including salaries, pensions, and debt servicing, totalling to Rs 48,000 crore. Even after accounting for Rs 13,950 crore in central tax devolution and Rs 10,000 crore in borrowings, the total pool of Rs 42,000 crore falls significantly short of the state's obligations....