What has 'out-on-bail' Virbhadra done for Himachal, asks PM Modi

SHIMLA: Taking a dig at state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government of being corrupt with no interest in developing the state. 

The state Chief Minister and his wife Pratibha Singh were granted bail by a special CBI court in connection with a nearly Rs 10 crore disproportionate assets case in May this year.

Attacking Singh in a public rally in Himachal's Dhaula Kuan, PM Modi said, “Virbhadra ki sarkar ki kya pehchan hai? Ye sarkar, party aur neta kaise hain? Har sawal ka ek jawab- bhrashtachaar. (What's the identity of Virbhadra government? How's this party (Congress) and its leaders? All questions have one answer – corruption).”

Accusing Congress of looting the state, PM Modi said that people will show them the exit door in the assembly elections scheduled for next month. 

“There are few elections where people pre-decide whom to elect. This is one such election. Congress knows they'll be wiped off.”

Highlighting the two tenures of Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJP's chief minister candidate for the state, the Prime Minister said, “Dhumal got two chances in the state. He helped eradicate violence against women, developed the state.”

Dhumal, 73, held the Himachal chief minister's chair two times - from March 1998 to March 2003, and again from January 2008 to 25 December 2012. 

Earlier, addressing a rally in Kangra, PM Modi said that the Congress government has failed on a number of development parameters. "The Chief Minister is embroiled in corruption and yet, the Congress manifesto says there will be zero tolerance for corruption. November 9 will give a chance to people to bid farewell to those who looted Himachal Pradesh," he said.

The state will go to polls on November 9. Counting will be held on December 18.