"I meant to say that local people should get preference (in employment). And this is everywhere. I did not say anything new. It is everywhere. Is it not so in Gujarat (that locals get preference in jobs)?," he told reporters.
Kamal Nath's intentions were clear and acceptable, but his choice of words was wrong. He could have avoided mention of UP and Bihar migrant workers.
In Bhopal, Nath had said, "Lot of industries are set up in which people from other states, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, come to work. I do not want to criticise them, but the youth of Madhya Pradesh are deprived (of jobs)."
"We used to hear such things from Maharastra, where it is being said why North Indians come here, do business and take jobs. Similar voices came from Delhi. Now it's from MP," Yadav said in Lucknow.
A day after taking charge as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Kamal Nath has triggered a row by saying that locals don't get jobs in industries as people from neighbouring states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh eat into their share.
Speaking during his first press conference at the state secretariat as the CM, Kamal Nath said incentives would be granted to industries giving preference to the state's youths in recruitment.
Fulfilling the pre-poll promises made by the Congress, order to waive off farmers’ agricultural loans were issued by newly elected chief ministers of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh on Monday.
BSP chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, whose parties have extended support to the Congress government, were conspicuous by their absence.
The 72-year-old Kamal Nath, who represented Chhindwara for nine terms in the Lok Sabha, was the only one to take the oath even as the other contender to the Chief Minister's post, Jyotiraditya Scindia, was present. The ceremony was held an hour behind schedule at 2.30 p.m.
Nath took the oath of office at 1:30 pm and the ceremony was preceded by an all-religion prayer meeting.
While BJP leaders have taken the occasion to target the Madhya Pradesh CM designate Kamal Nath on the day of the swearing-in ceremony, Congress urged all the parties not to politicise the issue.
BSP chief Mayawati, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav have skipped the oath-taking ceremony in Jaipur
After stunning victory of Congress in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, chief ministers of the three key states will be sworn in at different ceremonies in their respective states on Monday.
The district comprises seven Assembly seats of which four are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, making Mr Nath ineligible to contest from them.
SAD MLA Bikram Singh Majithia raised the issue in the state Assembly a day after his party colleague Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged in Delhi that Nath had a hand in the anti-Sikh riots.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot as Rajasthan CM and Dy CM respectively in Jaipur at 10 am. He will also attend the oath ceremony of Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh CM at 1:30 pm on the same day.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi put a stamp on Kamal Nath's name as Madhya Pradesh CM after hours of hectic parleys.
Congress party president Rahul Gandhi is likely to announce the names of chief ministers in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on Friday.
The announcement was made following the meeting of Congress legislature party in Bhopal.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was also considered to be in the race for CM's post, proposed name of Kamal Nath for the chief ministerial post, sources told IndiaTV.
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