Ujjain tragedy imperils MP meet

The Ujjain tragedy concerning the death of two professors has reportedly affected important economic events, planned to be organised during September 17-25 in the US and the UK.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and his government are under fire over an incident of killing of two professors in a college over the cancellation of students' elections in an Ujjain college.

Industry Minister Babulal Gaur's visit to China is also reported to have been cancelled for unknown reasons. However, officials neither confirmed nor denied this.

As chief minister last year, Gaur had signed a memorandum of understanding with a Non-Resident Indian association in the US, as per which NRIs of the US had planned to set up an India Centre at St Louis (Missouri). Gaur had agreed to inaugurate the centre.

The state government is unlikely to participate in the event. "A Madhya Pradesh block has also been created by NRIs at the India Centre at approximately $1 million," a government source said.

Although officials said the proposed visit of Babulal Gaur was still on the agenda, an industry insider said, "The invitees have been told that the visit has been cancelled. The Ujjain issue might have affected the event. The duration of the visit has been reduced by two days."

The visit is part of the ongoing programme "Destination Madhya Pradesh 2007", which the state government is organising in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The progamme includes foreign tours and roadshows worldwide to market the state's projects. It will culminate in a mega event in January in Bhopal.

Chauhan and officials of his secretariat were not available for comment. However, a top official in the state industries department told Business Standard, "The visit is tentative. We are waiting for the chief minister's nod."

Gaur has said he will visit the US to participate in the programme. Ficci has also arranged a meeting of the chief minister and industry minister with top auto executives and a presentation on Detroit's World Auto Testing Centre so that they both may have an idea about the auto testing centre being planned in Indore.

A meeting of the chief minister with top auto executives of the US was also planned at Detroit. Government insiders feared that the entire programme 'Destination Madhya Pradesh 2007' may be affected if the chef minister failed to attend the programme.