Panelists say that MP CM’s statement on workers from UP and Bihar is discriminatory
Soon after taking oath, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath took a veiled dig at migrant workers from UP and Bihar while explaining why employment for locals in his state is top priority. “People from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh come here and local people don’t get jobs,” he said. APN’s popular debate Mudda took up the issue of migrants, unemployment and the constitutionality of Nath’s statement. Anchorperson Anant posed the questions to panelists including Congress’s Saif Khan, BJP’s Dinesh Singh, constitutional expert CB Pandey, social worker Tahira Hasan, and APN consultant Govind Pant Raju.
Khan said: “Don’t jump to conclusions. Congress does not believe in divide and rule. Unemployment is the biggest problem in our country. Under PM Modi, jobs have gone down by over 50 percent.”
Anant asked: ”Why is the CM making such divisive statements?”
Khan said: “Look at the figures, Congress has created jobs whenever it has been in power.”
Anant said the issue is not employment, the issue is why people coming for work from others states are being targeted in this fashion.
Singh said: “Look at the character of Congress leaders. BJP leaders have never said any think like that. People in Bihar and UP might be better equipped for the jobs.”
Hasan said: “Nath’s statement is unconstitutional. Shiv Sena had made a similar statement earlier, and we had condemned that. How can Nath say that incentives to industries will not be given if they employ people from Bihar and UP? It is a discriminatory statement, and don’t put the blame that media is twisting remarks.”
Pandey said: “It is naive to assume that Nath doesn’t know what is constitutionally right. There can’t be any restriction on doing business anywhere in the country. Nath knows this. I think there is something else to this statement. This might show that he wants to keep industry with his own set of favoured people.”
Khan said: “When jobs are created, it boosts all-round employment. We have to eradicate all wrongs done by the earlier government.”
Singh said:”I don’t know where Congress leaders get their figures. Why are you twisting the statistics? Congress only believes in divide and rule.”
Raju said:”Kamal Nath has said that jobs should be given mainly to people from MP. But the CM sought votes from all his voters. Can such an important decision be taken by a state CM alone? He has announced loan waivers. It will take months to move papers. It is unfortunate that Nath has made a statement that lets down people from UP and Bihar.”
Anant asked how Nath can take such a decision without even a cabinet meeting?
Khan said: “Nath’s statement is being misinterpreted.”
Hasan said: “Nath has said that incentives will be given only for industries with 70 percent staff from Madhya Pradesh. This is condemnable.”
Anant asked Khan if Congress condemns or supports Nath’s statement.
Khan said: “It is not that people from other states will not get employment.”
Anant said regional discriminations should not be made, and pointed out anomalies in Gujarat and Maharashtra as well.
Singh said: “Whether Gujarat or Maharashtra, BJP will always condemn such trends. Cabinet approval is important and Nath cannot act on his own. Nath is a big leader. In actuality, this base is being created with a view to the 2019 polls. “
Pandey said: “CMs work as per the advise of the Council of Ministers. CM’s announcement alone is not enough. Secondly, the constitution lays down that unemployment of grounds of sex, religion or region cannot be denied to anyone.”
Raju said: “If someone wants to set up an IT industry in MP, can it be filled by 70 percent local staff alone? Nath’s statement is a complete hogwash. “
Khan said: “For a peon’s job, three lakh applications come in MP. Giving 70 percent preference will help such people, 30 percent is still there for others.”
Anant asked if Council of Ministers will be a puppet in Nath’s hands?
Hasan said: “It looks like that. It is an unconstitutional statement. In the past Shiv Sena has made such statements. From Gujarat too such statements have been made. All such statements are worth condemning.”