Saturday, February 8, 2025

Himachal Pradesh’s New Toilet Seat Tax: Congress Flushing the Economy?

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“Congress Ka Haath Ne Badla Halaat” – Toilet Seat Tax is the latest marvel of the INC government in Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh’s Sukhu administration has pulled off a grand feat – pushing the state into a financial mess. The situation is so bad that now even your toilet seats were under tax scrutiny!

With a debt of ₹90,000 crores, unpaid salaries, and freebie rollbacks, it seems the Himachal economy is spiraling into absurdity. But don’t worry, Congress has scrapped its solution – tax on urban toilet seats per month! Let’s explore how Congress’s “guarantees” have put the state in this ridiculous situation!

A Crappy Situation: The Toilet Seat Tax

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Himachal Pradesh is swirling in financial trouble, and who’s to blame? Well, Congress certainly isn’t holding back on the freebies and blame game. Two years after the promises made during the election campaign in 2022, CM Sukhu now finds himself with a debt the size of the Himalayas.

Himachal Pradesh’s total debt skyrocketed from ₹47,906 crore in 2018 to a staggering ₹90,000 crore in 2024, pushing the government to scramble for revenue – any revenue!

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Their solution? A Toilet Seat Tax. Yes, you heard that right. The people of Himachal Pradesh were to be asked to pay ₹25 per month for each toilet seat in their urban homes. And this crappy tax shall be neatly tacked onto their sewerage bill. As the state has approximately 5 municipal corporations and 29 municipalities, this tax will impact around 10 lakh people. Fancy having multiple bathrooms? Too bad! More toilet seats, more tax. The desperate government is plugging its financial hole one seat at a time.

What’s Next? A Flush Tax?

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PC X @TruthAlone2

The absurdity of taxing basic necessities raises an important question – what’s next? After scrapping the outrageous Toilet Seat Tax, will there be a charge for the number of flushes per day? Maybe a “Bathroom Usage Meter” to keep track of your visits and charge accordingly? With this kind of thinking, it wouldn’t be surprising if we soon see meters attached to every roll of toilet paper. 

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The government expected to rake in millions through the Toilet Seat Tax. However, the outage on the order led to a cancellation! But, in a state burdened with ₹90,000 crores of debt, this tax was more of a symbolic effort. This move only shifts the burden onto the common man, without addressing the real issue of fiscal mismanagement. The real absurdity is that the BJP government at the center is ready to build the common man ‘free toilets’ to make Bharat open-defecation-free! And the Himachal Pradesh government was ready to tax those very same toilets!!! 

The Cannabis Conundrum: From Pots to Pot Farms?

Himachal hemp is of premium quality; will grow cannabis for medical purposes: CM Sukhvinder Sukhu
PC The Economic Times

With the coffers drying up, CM Sukhu and his office have delayed their salaries for 2 months. And right now the Congress government is looking for quick cash cows. After all, how can they pay themselves if there’s no money left? In September 2024, Congress passed a resolution in the state assembly to legalize cannabis farming! Forget apples, Himachal Pradesh turns to something greener. The state legalizes cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes.

CM Sukhu and his ministers state that cannabis could bring in up to ₹500 – ₹2000 crore annually.

And as a bonus, it wanted to add the revenue from taxing toilet seats! Thankfully, public backlash stopped them in their tracks! At least the state won’t have to count bathrooms in each house. With its neighbor, Uttarakhand already profiting from cannabis cultivation, Himachal’s lush hills and favorable climate make it the perfect place to cultivate the green gold. Thus, Congress is trying to earn BIG using everything in their kitty – from pots to pot farms! But whether these moves can save the state or just cloud its future is yet to be seen.

Blame Game Galore: How Congress is Deflecting Responsibility!

Himachal In Financial Crisis: Salaries Delayed, CM Sukhu Blames BJP | India Today
PC YouTube @India Today

While the state drowns in debt, CM Sukhu has decided that instead of fixing the problems, it’s easier to play the blame game. According to him, the previous BJP government’s populist policies are to blame. As per him, offering free water and electricity added ₹1,080 crore to the state’s annual burden.

Thus, CM Sukhu claims the BJP’s “wasteful expenditure” is what led to this crisis, and now his government is left holding the (empty) bag.

However, the BJP is firing back, calling Congress’s promises nothing more than a “Khata-Khat” strategy! Similar to sob stories in Karnataka and Telangana, these irresponsible freebies are a doomed plan bound to bankrupt the state. Thus, while economists wave red flags on unchecked welfare schemes, the Congress-ruled states continue on their merry path of destruction laced with “freebie” promises. Meanwhile, they increase taxes from petrol to milk to their latest victims the toilet seats. These Khatakhat Promises are the biggest CON of the CON party!

Toilet Seat Tax – Fiscal Prudence or Fiscal Fantasy?

Congress News | Himachal Faces Financial Crisis: No Salary For Ministers, CM For 2 Months
PC YouTube @NDTV

While Himachal’s debt may be towering, the government still needs to figure out how to dig itself out of the hole. CM Sukhu has already cut back on the electricity subsidies for big hotels. However, the latest attaempt at toilet seat tax and cannabis cultivation feel like band-aids on a very large wound. Experts warn that while these quick fixes might not even plug some of the leaks in the CON party boat in Himachal! Therefore, what Himachal Pradesh needs is long-term revenue generation.

Perhaps the solution isn’t growing cannabis or charging for toilets, but in revitalizing industries and tourism.

With a debt-to-GSDP ratio expected to hit a shocking 42.5% by 2025, higher than the 15th Finance Commission’s recommendations, the state has no time for smoke and mirrors. It’s time for Himachal Pradesh to get serious – or it might find itself in a financial toilet it can’t flush.

Himachal Congress – Flushing Out Debt, One Toilet At A Time

It’s not every day you hear about a Toilet Seat Tax, but for ‘Congress Ka Haath’ the ‘Halaat’ is very bad! The backlash on the order made the INC govt withdraw the orders on Toilet Seat Tax! However, its desperate times in the state and CM Sukhu is looking for desperate measures to refill the coffers. Hence, as Himachal Pradesh struggles with mounting debt, delayed salaries, and strained finances, its leaders are scraping the bottom of the revenue barrel.

Therefore, while Himachalis worry about their mounting expenses, these tax gimmicks add insult to injury.

It seems that Sam Pitroda’s pre-election statement about the middle class having to tighten its belt for CON party freebies is coming true in every CON-party-ruled state. Thus, who knows if the future cannabis cultivation and the now scarpped toilet seat tax could save the state’s flushed-out finances? Many analysts think these ideas will serve as a temporary high to a strained economic policy! Hence, for now, residents will have to wait and watch each move by CM Sukhu and pray for financial relief!

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