Modi Govt Boosted Himachal Growth, Congress Missed Opportunities : Nadda

Record aid from the Centre, Congress government fails on both fronts of development and good governance in the state

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, addressed an important press conference held at Holiday Home in Shimla today. On this occasion, he elaborated on the historic achievements of the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the last 12 years, the unprecedented central support received by Himachal Pradesh, and the administrative failures and anti-development practices of the Congress government in the state.

At the beginning of his address, Shri Nadda expressed his gratitude to the people of Devbhoomi Himachal Pradesh and said that the people of the state have repeatedly expressed their unwavering faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the developmental politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its model of good governance. He said that by handing all four seats of the state to the BJP in three consecutive Lok Sabha elections, the people of Himachal have made it clear that they stand firmly with the politics of development, national interest and public welfare.

He said that the BJP also received widespread public support in the recently concluded Panchayat and Municipal elections. This is not just an electoral success, but a clear referendum against the state’s Congress government. This mandate is a direct testament to the public’s faith in the development journey under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the growing public dissatisfaction with the failures of the Congress government.

He said that in 2014, the country was going through a period of despair, policy paralysis, and leadershiplessness. The public could see problems, but solutions were nowhere in sight. Decision-making had weakened, and governance had become directionless. At such a time, the country chose a visionary and decisive leader in the form of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri J.P. Nadda said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the central government has spared no shortage of resources for the development, reconstruction, and public welfare of Himachal Pradesh. Unprecedented support has been provided in every sector, including disaster management, infrastructure, health, education, energy, and connectivity, but the Congress government has failed to convert these opportunities into public good.

From disaster to reconstruction, the central government is with Himachal at every step.

Shri Nadda informed that in the financial year 2024-25, Himachal Pradesh was provided additional assistance of ₹2,381 crore under the Special Assistance Scheme, ₹2,006 crore through NDRF and ₹2,150 crore for externally aided projects.

The Centre has made unprecedented investments in roads, railways, education and energy.

He said that national highway projects worth more than ₹40,000 crore are underway in the state. A record ₹2,911 crore has been allocated to the railway sector, and work is underway on four major rail projects worth ₹13,168 crore. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and the Vande Bharat train have given new impetus to the state’s connectivity.

Many development works like IIM Sirmaur, IIIT Una, Smart City Mission, Renuka Ji Dam and Luhri Project are proof of the commitment of the Central Government towards Himachal.

Historic investment in the health sector, but the state government lags behind in implementation

Mr. Nadda said that thousands of crores of rupees have been provided for AIIMS Bilaspur, medical colleges, the PGI Satellite Center, and IGMC Shimla. Through a JICA-supported ₹1,422 crore project, the state’s major healthcare institutions are being strengthened with state-of-the-art facilities.

But he said that only one of the 15 critical care blocks approved under PM-ABHIM has been completed. Only one of the 12 integrated public health labs has been completed, and none of the 73 approved block public health units has become operational. Nearly half of the ₹521 crore approved for the health sector under the 15th Finance Commission has remained unspent.

Bulk Drug Park: Three-year delay robs investment and employment opportunities

Highlighting the Congress government’s administrative incompetence and indecisiveness, Mr. Nadda said that the central government approved the Bulk Drug Park project on October 11, 2022, but the state government did not prioritize this ambitious project. He said that due to the state government’s sluggish approach and procedural negligence, it took nearly three years to obtain environmental clearance, which was granted only on September 25, 2025.

Mr. Nadda said that if the state government had completed the necessary formalities in time, Himachal Pradesh would have established a new identity in the country’s pharmaceutical sector and created employment opportunities for thousands of youth. He said that this is not just a delay in a project, but a clear example of the Congress government’s indifference to development and its tendency to squander opportunities.

He stated that the central government approved a grant of ₹1,000 crore for the project and released ₹225 crore, but the state government was only able to utilize ₹102.13 crore. He alleged that the state government’s inaction had unnecessarily set back potential investment, employment, and industrial development.

Medical Device Park: Missed opportunity to make Himachal a national manufacturing hub

Mr. Nadda said that the Medical Device Park, costing ₹100 crore, was approved on February 10, 2022, but the state government withdrew from the project in October 2024. As a result, the first installment of ₹30 crore released by the central government had to be returned.

He said this decision was a major setback for Himachal Pradesh’s industrial development. The Medical Device Park could have given the state national recognition in medical device manufacturing, attracted significant investment, and created extensive employment opportunities for youth.

Mr. Nadda said that due to the Congress government’s lack of vision, weak decision-making, and anti-development approach, Himachal Pradesh was deprived of a significant industrial opportunity. This raises serious questions about the government’s seriousness towards the state’s development.

Promised ‘system change’, but got a model of administrative chaos

Shri Nadda said that before coming to power, Congress had given the slogan of ‘change of system’, but today there is an atmosphere of administrative chaos, indecisiveness and policy anarchy in the state.

He said that there is hardly any example in the country where important positions like the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police are held on the basis of additional charge. This situation itself shows how seriously the Congress government is taking the administration of Himachal.

Taking aim at the Chief Minister, Mr Nadda said that it appears as if the post of Chief Minister is also being operated as an additional charge and the actual reins of the state are being run through remote control from Delhi instead of Shimla.

He said that serious allegations are being leveled against senior bureaucrats, and officials are publicly blaming each other, yet accountability is nowhere in sight. This situation exposes the Congress government’s administrative failure and leadership crisis.

Rising debt, declining accountability

Mr. Nadda said that according to the CAG report, Himachal Pradesh’s debt burden has exceeded ₹1 lakh crore. There is a lack of coordination between the government and administration, and development projects are not progressing at the expected pace.

Himachal wants development, accountability and results

Shri Nadda said that the people of Himachal Pradesh want results, not announcements; they want accountability, not excuses; they want development, not politics.

He said that the central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will continue to work with full commitment for the development and prosperity of Himachal. The central government has spared no shortage of resources, and now the people of the state are asking why, despite such extensive support, the expected results are not visible.