Hindustan Times (Bathinda)

In poll-bound Himachal, Modi’s dig at Cong: Entire party out on bail

- Gaurav Bisht gaurav.bisht@hindustant­imes.com

At his first election rally ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out the Congress saying the entire party was “out on bail” and asked the people to oust the Virbhadra Singhled Congress government.

“Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) and vice- president (Rahul Gandhi) are on bail in the National Herald case. The situation is no less in Himachal. How long the people of the state will tolerate the government which is on bail,” Modi said during his 45-minute speech in Bilaspur after laying the foundation of a Rs 1,350-crore 750-bed AIIMS hospital and an IIIT building.

“This is a ‘zamanati sarkar’. When some people of Congress came to meet me, I told them the chief minister and his entire family is out on bail, why don’t you change him? Strangely, they replied that our entire party is on bail,” the Prime Minister said while referring to the disproport­ionate assets cases against Virbhadra.

“Now tell me, don’t do we need to oust this government which is out on bail,” he asked the cheering crowd.

Highlighti­ng the corruption during the Congress-led UPA government, Modi said, “Before 2014, everyday newspapers were filled with stories of corruption. But in the last three years, there is no stain of corruption on our government.”

He also said that his government has approved work on 13 projects worth Rs 15,000 crore in the state which will not only bring employment but also boost the tourism sector in the state.

Roads and electricit­y can change the fate of Himachal. If there is non-stop power supply in the state, tourists would want to stay here. The more they stay, the more they will spend,” Modi said.

Lauding the people of the state, he said Himachal has done a commendabl­e job on the cleanlines­s front.

Wooing ex-servicemen in the state, Modi said: “I had announced during the Mandi rally that we will give ‘one rank, one pension.’ We have already disbursed three instalment­s that have benefitted ex-servicemen. Close to Rs 8,500 crore has been distribute­d and the fourth instalment would be released soon.”

This is a ‘zamanati sarkar’... How long the people of the state will tolerate the government which is on bail. NARENDRA MODI, PM

 ??  ?? Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Bilaspur on Tuesday. DEEPAK SANSTA/HT
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Bilaspur on Tuesday. DEEPAK SANSTA/HT

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