Sukhu spreading lies on Hamirpur Medical College, has weak memory: Anurag Thakur

Sujanpur (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 23 : Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday attacked Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, accusing him of spreading misinformation regarding the establishment of Hamirpur Medical College and said he was eager to claim credit for development work done by BJP.
"Chief Minister Sukhu's selective memory seems to be failing him as he spreads misinformation and propaganda regarding the establishment of the Hamirpur Medical College. It's evident that Sukhu is eager to claim credit for the development work undertaken by the BJP," Thakur said.
"Instead of engaging in such blatant falsehoods, he should focus on delivering results for the people during his tenure. With his administration failing to fulfill any of its promises over the past 16 months, Sukhu's attempts to appropriate BJP's accomplishments ring hollow and reflect poorly on his leadership," he added.
Anurag Thakur, who is the BJP candidate from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, addressed a series of public meetings in Sujanpur and Dharampur today.
"Congress is set to face a significant defeat in the Hamirpur Lok Sabha election on June 4. The Chief Minister is acutely aware of this reality. As their credibility continues to plummet and their support base wanes, the Congress party has resorted to falsehoods as a desperate tactic. Today, they fabricate lies about medical colleges and railways, and come June 4, they'll likely cry foul over EVMs," Anurag Thakur said.
Sukhu had earlier said that former Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had announced a medical college for Hamirpur during the Congress-led UPA government.
Anurag Thakur said that work regarding the medical college project was done by the BJP government.
"With the support of people, we under the leadership of the Modi government facilitated the approval and initiation of the medical college project in Jolsappad. We secured the land, laid the foundation stone, and commenced construction. However, the Chief Minister's penchant for falsehoods has led him to hysterically spread misinformation about the medical college on every street corner," Anurag Thakur said.
He provided a timeline regarding the Hamirpur Medical College.
"Allow me to refresh Sukhuji's memory. On March 1, 2014, a 100-bed Maternal-Child Hospital was inaugurated at Zonal Hospital Mandi. During the ceremony, the then Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, laid the foundation stone for a block worth Rs 17 crore. He also announced the establishment of two medical colleges in Chamba and Nahan, along with two trauma centers and one burn injury centre for Himachal Pradesh...
"It's noteworthy that this announcement, made prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, lacked any budgetary allocation, indicating its political nature. Furthermore, he inaugurated the incomplete Super Specialty Hospital block of Tanda Medical College via video conferencing due to adverse weather conditions, with no mention of the Hamirpur Medical College at the time," the union minister said.
He said on March 5, 2014, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet resolved to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Health Ministry but with Election Commission of India announcing Lok Sabha elections and Model Code of Conduct coming into effect, the significance of the cabinet meeting and the MoU was nullified.
He said following the elections, with the formation of the NDA government, the Congress had no opportunity to advance any substantive measures.
"Consequently, the declaration of these two medical colleges remained unresolved until I pursued the matter further," he said.
Anurag Thakur said that through persistent advocacy, including personal meetings and extensive correspondence at various levels, he successfully secured funding not only for Chamba and Nahan Medical Colleges but also ensured the inclusion of Dr Radhakrishnan Medical College, Hamirpur, in the list of 157 new medical colleges slated for phased opening.
"Despite continuous efforts by me and the Modi government, Sukhuji has persistently misled the public regarding the medical college issue since March 1, 2014. Under the leadership of JP Naddaji, as Union Health Minister in 2015, the Modi government approved the establishment of the medical college in Jolsappad, allocating a budget of Rs 174 crore for its commencement," he said.
Anurag Thakur alleged that the then state Congress government neglected the project for 2.5 years, failing to even provide the necessary land.
"Upon the formation of the BJP government in 2017, under the leadership of Jairam Thakurji, the land was promptly allocated, paving the way for further progress. Following the acquisition of land and requisite approvals from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the foundation stone for Dr Radhakrishnan Medical College, Hamirpur, was laid on June 6, 2018, in the presence of Jairam Thakurji, JP Naddaji, and me alongside other dignitaries."
He said the Centre has now disbursed its entire share, amounting to 90 per cent of the original project cost, totaling Rs 170.10 crore.
Additionally, equitable funding has been ensured for Chamba and Nahan Medical Colleges, as evidenced by the Health Ministry's press release dated October 24, 2021, outlining an allocation of approximately Rs 17691.08 crore for 157 medical colleges, equating to Rs 189 crore per college, the minister said.
He said Dr Radhakrishnan Medical College is operational today, boasting an intake capacity of 120 MBBS seats since the academic session 2018-19.
"In furtherance of bolstering and upgrading Government Medical Colleges, the Central Government sanctioned the creation of 20 EWS MBBS seats in Dr Radhakrishnan Medical College on January 23, 2023, with an allocated amount of Rs 24 crore," he said.
Anurag Thakur said the Central Government has disbursed Rs 5.4 crore out of its share of Rs 21.6 crore to the state government.
"Chief Minister Sukhu should cease his continuous dissemination of falsehoods regarding Hamirpur Medical College. Congress has consistently obstructed our developmental initiatives in Himachal Pradesh, but the public is well aware of this and will respond fittingly in the upcoming elections," the union minister said.