Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 10, 2015
URL:   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-strongly-bats-for-Chouhan-Raje/articleshow/48416621.cms

The BJP chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vasundhara Raje, who are under attack from the Opposition for Vyapam and Lalitgate scams, got a full-throated endorsement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, when he cited them as shining examples of political leadership that had extracted two backward states out of the morass of underdevelopment.

 Modi, who has been criticized for keeping "maun" (silent) over Chouhan's alleged complicity in the Vyapam admission and recruitment scam and the alleged collaboration between Raje and controversial former IPL boss, said the two states under the BJP have hauled themselves out of the 'Bimaru' grouping of backward states.

 "If you want Bihar to be out of the category of BIMARU states, hand over the reins to a BJP government. An NDA government which has capable leadership of people like Jitan Ram Manjhi, Ram Vilas Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha and Sushil Kumar Modi," he said, adding that under BJP's leadership, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have come out of it and were moving fast on the path of development, like BJP-ruled Haryana and Gujarat.

 The PM spoke of Raje's leadership in the context of Rajasthan, and although Chouhan did not get a specific mention, he has been the CM of MP for the better part of 12 years BJP has been in power in the state, during which the state growing at a fast clip.

 PM's remarks during the course of an election campaign where opponents have been highlighting the two scams are clear indication that he does not see Chouhan and Raje guilty of corruption that they have been accused of.