India had scientific potential but lacked leadership which is not the case now, said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday, highlighting the country’s fight against coronavirus led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India not only developed vaccines but also exported them to over 100 countries during the pandemic, Chouhan said in his inaugural speech at the 8th India International Science Festival here, thanking PM Modi.

Nearly 8,000 delegates from different parts of the country, besides noted scientists and officials of science and technology organisations, are expected to take part in the 4-day event, whose theme is ‘Marching towards Amrit Kaal with Science, Technology and Innovation’.

“Had those vaccines not been rolled out, we would have been sitting here with face coverings,” Chouhan said. “We had scientific potential but lacked leadership, which is not the case now,” he said.?Curiosity is the mother of science and “our knowledge and contribution without curiosity was nothing”, he said. “Our prime minister’s thinking is wholly scientific,” Chavan said.

A “glorious and strong” India is emerging under the leadership of PM, said Chouhan, adding that the country’s startup ecosystem has become the third largest in the world.