Una/Dharamsala
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the previous Congress-led UPA government for “abusing” subsidy of Rs 57,000 crore meant for the poor.

“People used to loot the treasury in the name of subsidies. In the past, Rs 57,000 crore used to get leaked due to rampant corruption in implementing subsidies,” Modi said at an election rally at Una ahead of the state’s November 9 assembly polls.

“Now our policy has stopped the leak. The leaders in Congress cannot bear this, so they are attacking me.”

Taking potshots at former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s statement that Re 1 ends up as 15 paise when it reaches villages, Modi said: “Rajiv was such a doctor who diagnosed the problem of corruption, but did not do anything about it (sic)”.

Taking a dig at the Congress central leadership, he said the party had already left the battlefield, and it was a one-sided contest.

“Mujhe iss chunav mein ek baat ka dukh rahega, mazaa nahi aa raha hai, kyunki Congress maidan chhod kar bhaag gayi hai (I will regret one thing about this poll. It isn’t fun because the Congress has accepted defeat),” he said.

Playing the development card by emphasising on promotion of tourism in the hill state, the Prime Minister said his government was focusing on laying road networks in the state.

Donning a Himachali cap, Modi, on his third and last election tour of the state, said: “In the last 20 years, there has not been a single election where I have not been involved. But this is an unprecedented election. I know where the wind is blowing.

“A storm is raging here against the corrupt Congress.” Batting for his government’s biggest tax reform with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Modi said it has benefited the transport sector.

“This country has warmly welcomed GST as it has immensely benefited the transport sector. Truck movement between the states has gained pace.” Talking tough against black money and holders of ‘benami’ or illegal properties, Modi said after demonetisation at least three lakh companies came under the scanner.

“We did a sample survey of 5,000 companies and saw that they at least transacted Rs 4,000 crore worth of black money. I can only imagine what will happen if we look at the transactions of all the companies.”

In Palampur, Modi accused the Congress of criticising his government’s measure of scrapping old high-value banknotes because they were afraid that the Uttar Pradesh’s “decisive” mandate in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party would be repeated in the forthcoming Himachal Pradesh elections.

“Congress is planning to burn my effigies on November 8. The problem is that a ‘chaiwala’ has become PM. People happy with demonetisation. People having black money should know that I am not afraid of processions,” he said, referring to Opposition’s plans to observe the day — the first anniversary of the central government’s shake up of the economy through demonetisation — as “Black Day”.

He claimed that these assembly elections were a battle between good and bad governance.

“These elections will decide the fate of Himachal. Next five years are crucial for good governance and progress,” Modi said.

He cited work done under former BJP chief ministers Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal — the party’s chief ministerial candidate for these elections — in the areas of drinking water, education and tourism.