"MP was considered 'BIMARU' state...has transformed rapidly under BJP": JP Nadda

Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) [India], April 12 : Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda has said that while Madhya Pradesh was earlier considered among the 'BIMARU' states, it has made rapid progress under the BJP government for the last 20 years.
Notably, BIMARU is an acronym used for poor states in India. Literally translating to 'sick', it included Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
He also affirmed that BJP is not against caste census, but accused the Opposition of sowing divisions in the society using the issue.
Addressing a public meeting in Chhindwara on Friday, Nadda said, "We have seen two forms of Madhya Pradesh...there was a time when it was considered a 'BIMARU' state. Today, I am happy that this BIMARU state has become a progressive state under the 20-year rule of the BJP and is growing rapidly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left no stone unturned in developing the state and has taken steps to take the state forward."
Heaping praise on Prime Minister Modi, he further said that the definition of politics has changed in the last 10 years.
"PM Modi changed the definition, culture and method of politics. 10 years ago, politics happened based on caste, religion, region, upper-lower caste, north-south, this side or that side of river. For 70 years, Congress made brothers fight against each other. But, now PM Modi has changed the definition of politics and now politics of 'Vikasvaad' is taking place," he said.
Slamming the INDIA bloc over their promise of caste census, the former Minister said that even the BJP is not against the idea but the intention of Opposition is to create division in the society.
"Today, the INDI alliance is very frustrated. They have demanded a caste census in the country. Even the BJP is not against caste census, but the intention of the (Opposition) is to divide people on the lines of caste. Modi ji has said that we move ahead with 'GYAN' -- gareeb, yuva (youth), annadata (farmer) and naari (women). If they progress, India will progress," Nadda further said.
The BJP President made a stark comparison between India of before and after 2014 and said corruption and terror attacks were common under the 10-year UPA rule.
"What was this country before 2014? Terror attacks happened any day, rampant corruption happened on a daily basis. Policies were made inside air-conditioned rooms, which had no connection with the ground. Development was stopped, farmers used to commit suicide and youth was left struggling," Nadda said.
"And we also saw 10 years of PM Modi. These 10 years were of development, of cultural revival. We saw farmers and women getting empowered. We saw villages progressing and in these 10 years, we saw India moving ahead as a strong nation," he added.
Lok Sabha elections for the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh are scheduled to be held in the first four phases of the total seven phases dated April 19, April 26, May 7, and May 13. The counting will be done on June 4.
In 2019, the BJP won 28 seats in the state and Congress could only win one seat.