BJP slams 'outsider' Kamal Nath for remark on UP, Bihar workers taking up jobs in MP

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday termed as "wrong" Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's claim that jobs given to people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh deny employment to youth of his state.

Newly-sworn in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath waves at the crowd during his swearing-in-ceremony, in Bhopal. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday termed as "wrong" Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's claim that jobs given to people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh deny employment to youth of his state. Kamal Nath told reporters after taking office on Monday that his government will provide incentives to industries that give 70 per cent of their jobs to those from his state and indicated that people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh get employment in Madhya Pradesh at the cost of the local population. Reacting to it, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said: "It's wrong. Often you get to hear the same from Maharashtra. Why have North Indians come here? Why have they taken up jobs here? Same from Delhi and now from Madhya Pradesh as well." What if the North Indians decide who will form government at the Centre? Yadav, whose party has extended support to the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, asked. The BJP also criticised Nath for his comments saying he appeared to be unaware of existing rules that prioritise jobs for the native population.  "He has also been a Union minister. He should be aware of these rules. What he is talking about is already in place... by making such a claim, he is misleading people," Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar said. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya agreed with his colleague and accused Nath of promoting "divisive" politics and pitting one region against another. Taking a dig at the chief minister, Vijaywargiya raised his "outsider" background and asked if the statement he has made should be implemented in politics too. "Kamal Nath was born in Kanpur. He received his education in (West) Bengal. His business is spread across the country. He is now chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Such a statement does not behove him," the BJP leader, who is also from Madhya Pradesh, said. Kamal Nath was at the forefront in steering the Congress to a win in the assembly polls. He was administered the oath of office by Governor Anandiben Patel on Monday. The Congress won 114 assembly seats and secured the support of seven more MLAs - SP (1) and BSP (2) and four independents - to cross the majority mark of 116 in the 230-member Assembly.