Madhya Pradesh: Chouhan denies rift with Gov

Bhopal, Dec 15: Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has denied any differences with Governor Balram Jakhar saying he did not want to associate himself with any controversy involving Raj Bhavan.

''The gubernatorial post is constitutional and it was upto the Governor to decide on which issue he had to comment upon'', Mr Chouhan told newsmen at the airport here last night on his return after 4-day visit to Singapore and Malaysia.

When asked to comment on media reports about certain critical remarks made by Mr Jakhar, the Chief Minister said the Governor had told him on phone that the media had twisted his statement.

Stating that Mr Jakhar was senior to him in all respects and advised him on many issues, Mr Chouhan said the Governor's suggestion for cabinet discussion on Indore's social security pension scandal would be considered. He, however, did not comment on his cabinet colleague Kailash Vijayvargiya's remark that the Governor should keep restraint.

"Such comment was expected from a senior leader'', he said about senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh's remark that Mr Vijayvargiya should not cross his limits while commenting on the Governor.

''There was no urgency in effecting cabinet reshuffle, which would be based on the performance of the ministers'', he said.

Claiming that his foreign tour was successful, he said investors had shown keen interest to invest in Madhya Pradesh. Two-day Global invest meet will be held at Khajuraho from January 16 to attract NRIs, while ''Destination Madhya Pradesh'' will be held in October next year to attract foreign investors.

UNI