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 government. Then, in 2023, the worst disaster of the century struck. Despite all these challenges, development was not halted," Sukhu said during the Jan Sankalp rally in Mandi held to mark the completion of three years of his government in the state. State BJP leaders have criticised the Sukhu government over the "lavish" celebrations to mark the completion of three years of the government. The Jan Sankalp rally was organised in Mandi - the home district of former CM and leader of the Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur- considered strong hold of saffron party. The BJP won nine of the 10 seats in Mandi, while Congress only managed to win the Dharampur seat. Therefore, holding a major Congress third-anniversary event in Mandi signals a strategic shift within the party with presenting reports of government initiatives in the past three years. Speaking on the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), Sukhu said, "If we wanted to gain political advantage, we would have introduced the OPS in 2027. But we introduced OPS for social security in our very first cabinet meeting. In return, the central government withheld Rs.1,600 crore." Taking a dig at the Opposition party in the state, Sukhu said that BJP was so sure of the loss of Congress in 2024 byelections. "The BJP, which claims to be a champion of democracy, tried to buy our MLAs. Jai Ram Thakur arrived at the governor's office at 8 o'clock and said in the assembly that now even god cannot save this government. But his party won only six seats while we secured 40." Sukhu said that their government has fulfilled six guarantees and remaining will be fulfilled in the next two years. Reacting to LoP Jai Ram Thakur's "Alto car" remarks, and setting the tone for 2027 polls in state, Sukhu said our government's performance would ensure a return to power in 2027, that too in a "52-seater Volvo". Jai Ram, after BJP's victory in Bihar, had said that after the next state polls, the Congress MLAs would fit into a "Alto car". Deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri lashed out at state BJP leaders and also warned the bureaucracy. "Despite the Congress government in the state, some officers are still paying 'hazri'at the homes of BJP leaders, said Agnihotri, while demanding strict action against such officers. Agnihotri also blamed the BJP leaders of "blocking" the state's right. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Himachal Pradesh after the disaster and announced package of Rs.1,500 crore. However, BJP leaders are trying to block Himachal's rights by going to Delhi," he said. Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajani Patil said the government has not just made announcements but has delivered concrete results on the ground. She said that despite various challenges, the CM has taken decisive steps to build a self-reliant and progressive Himachal. State Congress chief Vinay Kumar said these three years would be remembered as a golden chapter of transformative decisions. The CM also distributed e-voucher to meritorious students under the Srinivasa Ramanujan Students Digital Scheme for purchasing gadgets. CM also released financial assistance of Rs.14,17,18,354 under various welfare schemes of the Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board....