Police lobbed teargas shells and cane-charged BJP workers after they clashed with Congress men to oppose the foundation laying ceremony of a 1,000-bed hospital in medical college campus by former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, an official said.

Scindia was scheduled to lay the foundation of the hospital, but BJP workers led by Morena MP Anoop Mishra, reached the venue before his arrival. They opposed the event saying the foundation was laid in 2009 by the then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Congress MLA Munnalal Goyal and his supporters also reached the spot at the same time. But they were prevented by the BJP men, which resulted in a clash between them, a police official said. "Police fired teargas shells and cane-charged the protesting BJP workers. But the situation is under control," Gwalior collector Bharat Yadav said.

"The BJP workers were arrested and kept in a temporary confinement," Gwalior SP, Navneet Bhasin said. Later, Scindia laid the foundation stone for the 1,000-bed hospital to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 350 crore. Speaking on the BJP's protest, Scindia said two BJP chief ministers- Babulal Gaur and Chouhan - had laid the foundation stone in 2005 and 2009 respectively just to get their names carved on the cornerstone.

Only 200-bed hospital can be constructed on the land that was allotted by them for the purpose. "On January 25 this year, only the newly-formed Congress government allotted nine hectares of land for the construction of the 1,000-bed hospital. The officials were given the target to complete the work in 30 months," Scindia said.

After the construction of this hospital, people of 20 districts will be benefited, he said. State Medical Education Minister Dr Vijaylaxmi Sadho also spoke on the occasion. A proposal will be tabled in the state cabinet to name the hospital after late Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia, she said.