Two days after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's controversial remark on Bihari migrant workers, Union minister Kamal Nath on said locals should be given preference in employment in the state.

"Madhya Pradesh is identified by its unity in diversity.

But I feel that priority should be given to absorb locals in case new industries are set up in the state," Minister for Transport Kamal Nath told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

He said that creating employment is the need of the hour and one has to create new avenues for it.

To a query regarding his constituency, he said that if new industries come up in Chhindwara, locals should be given priority in employment.

"Locals means people of my area (Chhindwara) and not Madhya Pradesh," he added.

The statement came close on heels of Chouhan's remarks against migrants workers from Bihar two days back which evoked strong criticism.

"Locals should be given preference in employment in the industries being set up in the state. It should not happen that people should come from outside...Bihar and get the jobs here," Chouhan had said at a function in Satna on Thursday.