Chandigarh, Sep 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday urged chief ministers and corporate sector bosses to pull up their socks with a plea to give up the "chalta hai" attitude.

Addressing a conclave of chief ministers of northern states here, Manmohan Singh said: "This chalta hai (everything if fine) attitude for everything will have to go away in our country."

If India wanted to compete globally and be counted, it will have to face challenges and overcome them, he said.

"India should never be satisfied with its performance and strive for more," he said, referring to the 8 percent sustained growth of the economy in the last two-three years.

Without naming any state, the prime minister remarked that some states were on a memorandum of understanding (MOU)-signing spree to grab headlines. These states were trying to compete against one another by offering more incentives through these MOUs, he said.

He urged states to re-work their tax structures to have a common economy.

"The value added tax (VAT) is the biggest success story of recent years. Chief ministers should work to harmonise taxes. Having a common economy and single market is very much feasible and attainable," he pointed out at the conclave organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.