Dr. Singh said Madhya Pradesh has made significant progress in accelerating the pace of social and economic development of the state in just 12 months. The former PM also released the Congress government’s vision-to-delivery Roadmap 2020-25 and said it has “precise focus and realistic aspiration”. Addressing CM Nath as his “esteemed friend” Singh said the state government has created fresh employment opportunities for thousands by collaborating with industry as well as by addressing micro enterprises.

He praised Nath for the focus on enhancing industrial growth by attracting domestic and foreign investment at the recently held Magnificent MP summit. Crucially, the Nath administration has addressed health and education issues that did not receive adequate attention in the past, the former PM said. “Given the importance of agriculture in the economy of Madhya Pradesh the state government’s commitment towards improving the lives of farmers and inclusive growth of the deprived sections of society have already begun to yield results through newly launched schemes like Jai Kisan Fasal Wrin Maafi Yojna” he said.

Approving the Vision Roadmap document of planning for next four years Dr. Singh said “To give further direction to its commitment towards providing a healthy and productive life to the people of Madhya Pradesh, the state has formulated carefully worked-out plan at the state, sectoral and departmental levels”. Every sector has been given due attention in the document, he added.

“The very first is economic prosperity – this is as it should be. This brings out the focus of the state on strengthening the industrial sector and agro-processing activities” he said. The former PM argued that agro-processing activities would attract investment and create more jobs in the organised sector, ensuring better price returns for farmers.

In the presence of former Prime Ministyer Dr. Manmohan Singh chief minister Nath gave an account of the work done by his government and explained the punitive action recently initiated against ‘mafia of all kinds’ across the state.

CM Nath said that in the past year his government has simplified many rules. “Youth wants business or work and that is possible only when investment comes. Investment will comer when there is trust in the government. We tried to instill that faith in investors” he said. Despite being a large state, Madhya Pradesh has always been compared to smaller states, he said.

“However today Indore and Bhopal have started getting new recognition. This environment can happen only when we bring change in our work process Shudh Ke Liye Yudh starters as a campaign against adulteration. Who will come to invest in a state with such adulteration? Who will come to the state when mafia is active here? We must make Madhya Pradesh mafia free. Only then can we take this state to greater heights he argued.

Though most of the Congress leaders attended the programme held to celebrate one year of the Congress government media noted the absence of Jyotiraditya Scindia. The crackles of burning logs we heard in the Congress on Tuesday when the party was celebrating its one year in office.

The sounds became clearer as ex-MP Jyotiraditya Scndia kept away from the celebration. He was away not only from the function where the Vision Document was released but also from the celebrations across the state. Nor he twitted a message on social media congratulated Nath. Besides Scindia, former state Congress president Arun Yadav and former leader of opposition Ajay Singh did not take part in the function.

Yadav and Singh have played an important role in bringing the Congress back to power in the state. Both of them, however, congratulated Nath through social media. When Nath and Scindia together attended the wedding ceremony of the grandson of party MLA Banwarilal Sharma in Morena, it was thought that everything was normal between them.

But the staying away from the celebrations, Scindia proved that the chasm between him and Nath is yet to be filled in. Scindia is considered to be one of the strongest contenders for the post of MPCC chief. Nath is not getting any support from the three leaders so their relationship is not normal. Scindia is, in fact, keeping off from any of the functions held by the state government. (IPA Service)