CM Sukhu Credits UPA for Hamirpur Medical College, Rejects BJP Claims
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has claimed he personally secured approval for Hamirpur Medical College from PM Dr. Manmohan Singh during the UPA era, rejecting credit claims by BJP MP Anurag Thakur and Union Minister J.P. Nadda, and disputing Nadda's assertion that JICA funds have been tied to the project.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhu says he personally lobbied then-PM Dr.
Manmohan Singh and then-Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to secure approval for Hamirpur Medical College during the UPA period.
He accuses BJP MP Anurag Thakur of 'forcibly' trying to claim credit for the college despite having 'no contribution' to it.
Nadda's claim that JICA funds have been secured, stating no agreement with the agency has been signed yet.
The Chief Minister says construction has accelerated since he took office in December 2022 , with the state government providing full funding.
The dispute reflects a broader Congress-BJP pattern of contesting credit for centrally-linked health infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh .
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday, June 21, 2026, publicly claimed credit for securing the sanction of Hamirpur Medical College, stating he had personally lobbied then-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and then-Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for its approval during the UPA era. He simultaneously rejected assertions by BJP MP Anurag Thakur and Union Minister J.P. Nadda that they or JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) funding were responsible for the project.
Context
Posting in Hindi on X, CM Sukhu wrote: 'हमीरपुर मेडिकल कॉलेज की स्थापना के लिए मैंने तत्कालीन प्रधानमंत्री डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह जी से बात की थी' ('I had spoken with then-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for the establishment of Hamirpur Medical College'). He added that the approval came at his personal request, with Ghulam Nabi Azad serving as the Union Health Minister at the time.
The Chief Minister directly targeted Anurag Thakur, the sitting BJP MP from Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency, accusing him of attempting to claim credit for a project to which, Sukhu said, 'he has made no contribution whatsoever.' The remarks amount to a pointed challenge ahead of what is shaping up as an ongoing political contest over health infrastructure in the district.
Policy Backdrop
During the UPA-II government (2009–2014), the Centre sanctioned several new government medical colleges across states, including proposals from Himachal Pradesh, as part of a broader push to expand undergraduate medical seats in underserved regions. Hamirpur Medical College is one such project whose initial clearances are traced to that period.
CM Sukhu also contested a claim made by J.P. Nadda — BJP's national president and a senior Union Minister from Himachal Pradesh — that the college's funding had been sourced from JICA. Sukhu stated categorically: 'No agreement has been signed with JICA so far,' and called on the Union Minister to refrain from commenting without accurate information. The JICA funding status remains unconfirmed from official public records.
Stakeholders and Impact
Residents of Hamirpur district and medical education aspirants across Himachal Pradesh stand to benefit directly from the college's completion. The district has historically lacked a government medical institution of its own, making the project a high-priority demand for local communities.
CM Sukhu stated that construction has accelerated since he assumed office in December 2022, with the current state government providing the full funding required. 'After I became Chief Minister, the construction of this medical college has picked up pace. The present state government is making all the funds available for it,' he wrote.
What's Next
The political dispute over credit is likely to intensify as civil works at Hamirpur Medical College progress and the project moves closer to operationalisation. Any formal communication from the Union Health Ministry or an official announcement on JICA loan terms would either validate or contradict the competing claims now on record.
State budget allocations for the college in the coming financial cycle will be closely watched as a measure of the Sukhu government's commitment to the timeline it has implicitly set. The broader pattern of Congress-BJP credit disputes over centrally-linked health infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh shows no sign of abating ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Anurag Thakur and J.P. Nadda, who represent the constituency and the state respectively. By specifically calling out the unverified JICA funding claim, Sukhu shifts the burden of proof onto the Centre at a moment when the project's visibility is rising. The move fits a well-established Congress playbook in Himachal Pradesh: contest BJP credit-claiming on infrastructure that predates the current central government, using social media to reach voters directly. With assembly and local elections always on the horizon in a competitive state, control of the narrative around visible public works like medical colleges carries real electoral weight.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who approved Hamirpur Medical College?
According to CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu , the college was approved during the UPA government after he personally requested then-PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and then-Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad . The exact year of central approval is not confirmed in official public records.
Why is Anurag Thakur in a dispute over Hamirpur Medical College?
CM Sukhu has accused BJP MP Anurag Thakur , who represents the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency , of attempting to claim credit for the college's establishment despite having made no contribution to securing its approval.
Is JICA funding Hamirpur Medical College?
CM Sukhu has denied that JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) is funding the college, stating that no agreement with the agency has been signed as of June 2026 . This contradicts a claim made by Union Minister J.P. Nadda .
What is the current status of Hamirpur Medical College construction?
CM Sukhu stated on June 21, 2026 that construction has accelerated since he took office in December 2022 , with the Himachal Pradesh state government providing all necessary funds for the project.
Who is J.P. Nadda and what is his role in the Hamirpur Medical College row?
J.P. Nadda is the BJP's national president and a Union Minister from Himachal Pradesh . CM Sukhu has challenged his claim that JICA funds were secured for the college, calling it factually incorrect.
