Himachal Pradesh government is 'running on bail,' says PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh is 'one running on bail,' in an oblique reference to state chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who is embroiled in money laundering and disproportionate assets cases to the tune of Rs 10 crore.

"The Himachal government is a 'zamanati' government," said PM Modi while addressing a public meeting in Bilaspur.

"I told some Congress leaders that the chief minister's family is on 'zamanat' (bail), why don't you change him? They said, what can we do, the entire party is out on bail," he added.

PM Modi, who was in Bilaspur to lay the foundation stone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), stressed the "wide-ranging benefits" of such an initiative.

"Tourists come to Himachal Pradesh from far off places. If they get access to AIIMS and get treated well, they will want to come here frequently," he said. "We're making a campus where over 3000 people will work together. This is also bringing employment opportunities."

The 750-bed hospital, expected to be build at a cost of Rs 1,350 crore, will be a "lifeline for the people of Himachal," and will provide medical education at the under-graduate and post-graduate levels.

Modi announced that the Centre will invest Rs 15,000 crore in 13 development projects in the state.

The PM also laid the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Una, and will inaugurate a steel processing unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) at Kangra.