Previous govts didn't help MP to shed 'BIMARU' tag: Modi

He said that the state had progressed rapidly under the leadership of CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Praising the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the state progressed even though the previous regimes had ensured that the state doesn't shed its 'BIMARU' tag.

"Despite previous governments not helping it to come out of the BIMARU states list, Madhya Pradesh, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has progressed at a rapid pace and shown a direction to the country," Modi said while addressing party workers at the airport here.

'BIMARU', which means sick, was an acronym formed in the 80s from the initial letters of the names of four states - Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Modi arrived here on his first official visit after becoming the Prime Minister to inaugurate the state government's ambitious Global Investors Summit (GIS).

He was accorded a warm welcome at the airport by Chief Minister Chouhan, state BJP unit president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan and local MLAs.

In his brief address, Modi recalled the party's journey from Jansangh to BJP and said that since beginning the party's aim was to ensure progress of Dalits and poor people.

"We have to strive hard to ensure that India becomes world guru as people have given us a big mandate. We are more duty bound to ensure the country's progresses at a rapid pace," the 64-year-old senior BJP leader said.

Praising Madhya Pradesh's farmers, he said they have made a tremendous progress by ensuring that the state remains number two position in wheat production, while earlier it was dependent on others for its requirement.

On the occasion, he assured Chouhan that the Centre will give full-fledged support to Madhya Pradesh in implementing development schemes.

Addressing the party workers, Chouhan praised Modi's leadership and said that after he became Prime Minister, the country's self-confidence level has increased manifold with stocks and share markets showing an upward trend.

Praising Modi for his historic US trip, he said it was like Swami Vivekanand's Chicago visit.