Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed anguish over the impasse in setting up an AIIMS-like hospital in West Bengal, union minister Deepa Dasmunshi said Sunday.

Dasmunshi, who is on a fast in support of the institution, said the union cabinet gave its consent to set up the hospital in 2009 in Raiganj in North Dinajpur district — her constituency.

But the Trinamool Congress government has opposed the proposal, saying farmers at the proposed venue were not ready to give up their land.

Dasmunshi said the prime minister, on a visit to Kolkata to participate in the bi-centenary celebrations of the Indian Museum, called her up Sunday urging to end her fast which she began Friday.

“The first thing he said was ‘We all have deep anguish’ and can understand the reason for your stand,” the Congress MP told the media.

Dasmunshi said the prime minister had assured her that he would talk to the stakeholders to resolve the issue.

  AIIMS impasse in Bengal, Dasmunshi, PM anguished