Shimla, March 22 -- As Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced a six-month salary deferment for ministers, MLAs, and senior bureaucrats, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee chief Vinay Kumar defended the state budget, saying that most of the cuts have been made in the salaries of big officials and legislators who have good incomes and no cuts were made in the income of third-class, fourth-class employees.

Presenting his fourth budget, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu unveiled temporary salary cuts, including a 50 per cent reduction in his own salary, 30 per cent for ministers and senior bureaucrats, and 20 per cent for MLAs and other officials. The move is aimed at easing fiscal pressure without impacting we...