Purchase of Gita copies wasn’t misuse of public money: Haryana CM Khattar

Responding to questions of the media at Karnal, the CM said that 10 copies of the holy book of Gita were bought from a reputed company at a cost of Rs 37,900 as against its price of Rs 38,500.

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday refuted claims about misuse of public money for purchasing copies of Bhagavad Gita during the International Gita Mahotsav last November and said that “the cost of the holy book was not more than its value”.

CM Manohar Lal Khattar addressing the newly recruited cops at Haryana Police Academy in Karnal on Sunday. (HT Photo)

Responding to questions of the media at Karnal, the CM said that 10 copies of the holy book of Gita were bought from a reputed company at a cost of Rs 37,900 as against its price of Rs 38,500. “Those who do not know the meaning or value of Gita could term it as wastage of money,” he added.

“Those who criticise the high price of the book of Gita should be condemned,” he said pointing out that one could easily make out the worth of the book from its look.

Earlier, addressing 1,700 newly recruited cops at the Haryana Police Academy in Madhuban, Khattar said that he had ended the myth that chief ministers hesitate in visit police academies.

Replying to a question on the demand for salary hike of Haryana police personnel on the pattern of Punjab, the chief minister said that the Haryana government is providing benefits and facilities to the police personnel as per its own policy.

“Every state has a different policy. We have implemented the 7th pay commission recommendations and provide Rs 1,500 for a winter jacket to all cops. There is also a provision of weekly offs in Haryana police,” he added.

On the controversy related to the screening of Padmavati movie, the chief minister said that the censor board has already cleared the movie and changed its name but the movie will be examined before the screening.