Shimla, Feb. 19 -- Amid uproar and repeated disruptions by the Opposition, the Himachal Pradesh assembly on Wednesday passed the resolution seeking restoration of the revenue deficit grant (RDG). Parliamentary affairs minister Harshwardan Chauhan had proposed a resolution for discussion in the House on February 16, saying, "The state was receiving the amount of RDG under Articles 275 and 280 of the Constitution from the 5th to the 15th Finance Commission, which has been discontinued by the central government from the next financial year as per the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, due to which a situation of economic crisis has arisen in the state. In view of this, this House strongly recommends to the central government that the RDG amount being given earlier should be provided as per the revenue deficit in view of the economic condition of the state." Amid repeated disruptions, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu replied to a discussion on a government resolution moved under Rule 102, regarding the situation arising due to RDG discontinuation. Sukhu said the RDG was stopped on February 1 and that his immediate effort thereafter was to gather feedback from all stakeholders. He asserted that RDG is not the right of any government but the right of the people of the state. He also questioned the Opposition's stand, stating that they were unable to clarify whether they supported or opposed the discontinuation, adding that stoppage of RDG would require a 15% cut in the state budget. Referring to submissions made before the finance commission during the previous BJP government, Sukhu asked whether the demands placed before the 15th Finance Commission had now been fulfilled. He said that when Jai Ram Thakur was CM, he had described RDG as a constitutional right before the 15th Finance Commission along with highlighting Himachal as a revenue deficit state with higher operational costs due to its geographical conditions. "What has changed now? Why not say the same before the Prime Minister?" Sukhu asked. Presenting financial comparisons, Sukhu said that during the five-year tenure of the Jai Ram government, the state generated Rs.55,564 crore in revenue from its own resources, whereas his government generated Rs.50,520 crore in three years. He said the previous government had borrowed Rs.45,250 crore in five years and repaid Rs.38,722 crore, while his government borrowed Rs.35,482 crore in three years and repaid Rs.27,043 crore. He further stated that the Jai Ram government received Rs.54,000 crore as RDG and Rs.16,000 crore as GST compensation from the Centre over five years, totalling Rs.70,000 crore, whereas the present government received only Rs.17,000 crore in three years, yet managed to bring systemic changes and perform better. As Sukhu placed the figures before the House, the BJP members rose from their seats and protested, alleging that incorrect data was being presented, also objecting that the leader of Opposition was not being allowed to talk. To which the Speaker assured that time would be given to the LoP. Amid continued sloganeering, from both the Opposition and treasury benches, Sukhu remarked that the Opposition lacked the courage to listen. The uproar escalated, with Opposition members trooping into the Well of the House and raising slogans, followed by counter-slogans from the ruling side. Ruling Congress, under the leadership of CM Sukhu, also raised slogans against the BJP for opposing RDG. Assembly proceedings were first adjourned for ten minutes. The assembly's budget session was deferred till March 18. After the conclusion of the Assembly session, BJP MLAs, under the leadership of the LoP, raised slogans against the government....