CM denies rift between him and IPH minister

Mandi, Jun 26 (UNI) Denying any rift between him and senior Congress leader and Irrigation and Public Health (IPR) Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, HP Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh termed them ''rumours being spread by a section of the media.'' ''The party had unitedly fought and won the last assembly elections with a three-fourth majority and is well on its course on fulfilling its election promises made during the elections,'' he said, while addressing a public meeting at Bijni, near here.

Mr Singh asserted people who were trying to create a rift between him the IPH minister would not succeed.

Accusing the previous BJP government for not sanctioning requisite funds for the construction of the 300-bed hospital here, the chief minister said his government had sanctioned the funds soon after coming to power.

He said the new hospital was almost ready and would be inaugurated within the next fortnight.

Mr Singh also announced the opening of a private medical college in the district, an engineering college at Sundernagar and a Government Degree College at Baijnath from this academic year.

Responding to Mr Thakur's demand for opening a degree college at Padhar, he said the college would only be sanctioned if the people of the area provided appropriate land for the construction of the college building.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, the IPH minister said he had been a strong supporter of Mr Singh for over two decades and would swim and sink with him.

Without naming anyone, he said, several people who had maintained distance with Mr Singh when he was out of power were now pretending to be most faithful.

The chief minister also announced the up-gradation of the Nasloh Middle School to High School after inaugurating a PWD rest house, constructed at a cost of Rs 58 lakh.

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