New York,
Oct 27: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged
Indian-Americans to help his state develop further and become a part of its
rapid progress on various fronts. On Thursday, the sixth day of his week-long
visit to US, he addressed an interactive session at the Consulate General of
India here of the 'Friends of MP' conclave. Most of the people present were
those whose origin is the central state. The chief minister is scheduled to
leave for India on Saturday. “You have to work for the society in which you
live, but you should not forget your motherland and the land of your origin,”
Mr Chouhan said. “Imagine if Indian doctors don’t work in America what will be
the health condition of people here," he said. Similarly, the Chief
Minister referred to Indians’ contribution to Silicon Valley and other fields.
“India is great because of your contributions here.” He pointed out that there
will be a three-day Friends of MP convention in the state in the run-up to the
Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in the second week of January. The first day will be
allotted for music, art and culture, and the other days will be dedicated for
economic and social issues as well as wildlife tourism and available investment
opportunities. The conclave, formed when Mr Chouhan last visited New York in
2015, was urged to participate in the convention. He announced the appointment
of principal secretary S K Mishra and a new minister to be in-charge of the
non-resident Madhya Pradesh people. At the end of his hour-long address to the
gathering, estimated to be 200 people, the 58-year-old leader received a
standing ovation. He spoke on a wide range of subjects. On the bilateral
relationship,Mr Chouhan pointed out both India and America are democratic
nations and for international benefit, fight jointly on issues, including
terrorism, . He referred to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and President
Donald Trump, saying the former restated India-America friendship and the
latter became the first president to be present at a Diwali function at the
White house. “We are not as we were in 1962 (when China unethically attacked
India). We are not going to surrender to any power,” he said, adding those
countries that 'intimidate us' would not be spared. In the economic sphere, the
long-serving MP leader noted China might be a little ahead now, but New Delhi
would get past Beijing shortly. Some 12-14 years ago, the infrastructure –
especially the roads’ condition -- in the central state was woeful. But now
Madhya Pradesh has one of the best roadways systems in the country. Referring
to his remarks that the roads in the state are better than the ones in the US,
Chouhan said he was here to market Madhya Pradesh. “I mentioned the situation
and it became viral in social media. If the roads are good in my state, should
I not say it?” he asked. The Chief Minister said he would rather prefer to take
the “Super Corridor” to go to the Indore airport than going by road from
Washington to its airport. He spoke about the power-surplus situation in the
state and noted that the world’s largest solar plant would soon come up in Rewa
district. Aside from that, electricity is being obtained from wind and hydro
sources. The CM also spoke on farm growth (which is 20 per cent for the last
five years), irrigation (every year 500,000 hectares are being added to the
four million, which itself is a state record), food processing (whose capacity
is being increased exponentially), health and education (where the situation
has to be improved substantially). “We have double-digit economic growth—much
higher than the national average,” he pointed out. “But it has no value if the
poor people are not able to obtain those benefits.” Mr Chouhan said the
government would ensure the provision of housing to all the poor in three
years. Seven medical colleges are being set up now. “I am the first servant of
the state, which itself is a big temple and the people themselves are god to
me,” the chief minister observed. Focusing on the climate change, Mr Chouhan
said, citing social reformer Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, “You may make the best use
of the nature, but you should not exploit it towards its selfish ends.” UNI
