Shimla, Sept. 3 -- Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said his government was gradually clearing pension and employees' arrears despite the state's financial constraints, while accusing the previous BJP government of having left the state in a difficult financial position.

CM Sukhu said pensioners aged above 67 years had been paid their full arrears, while Class-IV employees who had retired had also received their pending pension arrears.

He said the BJP government had paid only Rs 50,000 to around 50,000 government employees and officers before the elections.

"Despite the state's financial situation, we are gradually paying pension arrears. We have paid approximately 55-57 per cent of the arrears due to Class-I...