Shimla, March 22 -- Leader of opposition and former chief minister (CM) Jai Ram Thakur, warning of serious financial implications said that the state is moving towards a "financial emergency". "You cannot cut budgetary allocations like this without declaring a financial emergency. Himachal is heading in that direction," he said. BJP leader pointed out that the budget size has been reduced by around Rs.3,500 crore compared to the previous year, while claiming that the overall outlay has remained nearly stagnant since the first budget of the present government. "The first budget of this government was around Rs.53,000 crore, and even the fourth budget is almost at the same level. This reflects a lack of growth vision," he said. Criticising the deferment of salaries, the CM said, "This deferment is merely a time-pass exercise. It does not address the real financial issues," he said. Terming the budget as "directionless", Jai Ram said, "This budget is completely directionless. I have seen 29 budgets here, but this one has demeaned the dignity of the House," he said. The Himachal Pradesh assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Saturday said the state is going through a difficult economic phase following the discontinuation of the RDG, but clarified that the situation does not amount to a "financial emergency". "I do not think the state is in an emergency situation. It is a difficult time, and we will face it together," he said. Speaker said state has been impacted significantly after the RDG halt and called for collective responsibility among all stakeholders. "The state is passing through a difficult economic situation," he said. "If salary deferment has been proposed, it is a welcome move. At the same time, interests of lower-level workers like Class III, Class IV, ASHA and Anganwadi workers must be protected," he added....