Migrants from UP and Bihar are eating local’s job share: Kamal Nath

BHOPAL: Just after taking charge as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath has come up with a controversy with his comments on migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar taking jobs in the state at the cost of its residents. The BJP has demanded Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s apology for the comments and even the Samajwadi Party, an ally, is upset.

“Lot of industries are set up in which take people from other states, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. I really don’t want to criticize them, but the young people of Madhya Pradesh remain deprived,” Kamal Nath said, suggesting government incentives for industries who give 70 per cent of their jobs to people from the state.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who was conspicuously missing from the ranks of opposition parties who attended the oath ceremonies of Kamal Nath and two other Congress chief ministers yesterday, sharply criticized the comments. “This is completely wrong. In Maharashtra, have you ever heard questions like why have north Indians come here? Why are north Indians doing business here? The same questions come from Delhi. Now this is coming from Madhya Pradesh. In case if north Indians get together and decide then who will come to the center,” said the Uttar Pradesh politician.

Congress’ Bihar ally RJD was also critical. The party’s lawmaker and spokesman Bhai Virendra said such comments “should be avoided” as every citizen of the country was free to live and work anywhere.

Union Minister Giriraj Kishore of the BJP said Kamal Nath should clarify what he said and meant it. “Rahul Gandhi should apologise and say sorry to the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar”.

Kamal Nath party ended the BJP’s 15-year-old rule last week. The 72-year-old’s first move after taking charge was to sign off on farm loan waiver. Farmers’ loans of up to Rs. 2 lakhs from nationalized and cooperative banks will be written off.