Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan created another controversy by quoting a survey that almost 92 per cent roads in the United States (US) are not in good condition.
While talking to mediapersons here at the State Hanger after return from his weeklong US tour, Chouhan said that his earlier statement was not for comparing roads of Washington DC with that of Madhya Pradesh, but on seeing the roads of Washington, the road from Bhopal to Indore crossed his mind.
Few days ago, Chouhan had stirred a controversy after he had said that roads in Madhya Pradesh were better than those in the USA. In social media, he was trolled by Twitter users, who found his statement unusual and far from the truth, even though a section of users supported him.
Talking about his US trip, Chouhan said that he had gone to the USA on an invitation of Indian Embassy to attend a programme on Pt Deendayal Upadhyay.
"I was there for branding of Madhya Pradesh too. I did not talk of roads and lanes of Madhya Pradesh but good roads in Madhya Pradesh, like the one from Indore Airport (to the city) via super corridor," he added.
He said TRIP, a national transportation Research Group, had also reported that 92 per cent of roads in Washington DC were in a poor condition.
Chouhan said that India has done a lot in the field of woman empowerment. There had been no female president in the USA whereas women had occupied both the seats of President and the Prime Minister in India.
The Chief Minister pointed out that 1.5 lakh km roads have been constructed in Madhya Pradesh during the BJP rule.
There were several roads which were in an excellent condition and even worldIJclass.
However, he said road construction was a continuous process and so, if roads are constructed, there would be damage to some roads too. "During the Congress regime prior to 2003, the roads were in a bad shape like Indore to Bhopal, Bhopal to Sagar etc," he added. He said that during the Vikas Yatra, he would inaugurate more roads.
Chouhan told that he gave information related to the remarkable progress of Madhya Pradesh and India to non-resident Indians. 'Friends of Madhya Pradesh' has become a strong platform, he said. A huge number of non-resident Indians belonging to Madhya Pradesh are working in America on important posts. On their appeal, 'Friends of Madhya Pradesh' was constituted last year.
This has helped in forming a positive opinion about Madhya Pradesh in America. Now its activities are expanding. People from Madhya Pradesh residing in America have demanded that international flights should be started from Indore and Bhopal. Chouhan said that "Friends of Madhya Pradesh" is playing a significant role in building a positive image of Madhya Pradesh.
Chouhan told that a team of 400 doctors of Columbia are willing to visit Madhya Pradesh. There are many Thalassemia patients in the State. Its treatment is expensive because bone marrow transplant is expensive. All arrangements are being made in Indore's MY Hospital for the treatment of Thalassemia. Operations will also be started in coming April-May. Currently doctors are taking training in America.