Shimla, Feb. 10 -- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has strongly defended the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), calling its withdrawal "stepmotherly treatment" towards the hill state and warning that it could hit the state budget by nearly 15 per cent.

Speaking to reporters in Shimla, the Chief Minister said the Finance Minister's report tabled on February 1 marked a "black day" for Himachal Pradesh. He clarified that RDG is constitutionally valid and is intended to bridge the gap between a state's income and expenditure, particularly for small hill states like Himachal.

"The Centre itself has admitted that this was only a temporary relief. RDG is a right, not a favour. Himachal Pradesh cannot be treated as a revenue-su...