Report card | Haryana’s first BJP govt completes 3 years: Clean image but Khattar indecisive

Hindustan Times takes a look at the five highs and lows of Manohar Lal Khattar’s three-year rule:

The first BJP government in Haryana led by a first-time MLA, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, completed three years in power on Thursday. Here are five highs and lows of its rule.

The first BJP government in Haryana led by a first-time MLA, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, completed three years in power on Thursday. (HT Photo)

Khattar, a first-time MLA and chief minister, enjoys a clean image.

HIGHS

Fair recruitments: Recruitments in government departments during Khattar’s tenure have been done in a fair and transparent manner.

Grievance redressal: With the launch of the chief minister’s window for grievance redressal, the common man has been empowered.

Improved sex ratio: Impetus on the implementation of PNDT Act has resulted in improved sex ratio. The sex ratio at birth stood at 939 girls to 1,000 boys in March this year.

Clean image: Khattar, a first-time MLA and chief minister, enjoys a clean image. There are no charges of corruption or impropriety against him.

LOWS

Poor law and order situation: From controversial sect leader Sant Rampal’s arrest to the Jat stir to the violence after the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the official machinery exhibited lack of preparedness to tackle law and order problems.

Self-appointed cow vigilantes (gaurakshaks): Since Haryana Gau Seva Aayog chairman Bhani Ram Mangla’s directed sampling of biryani collected in Mewat days ahead of Eid, there have conflicts between “cattle smugglers” and self-appointed cow vigilantes

Shelving Dadupur-Nalvi scheme: Calling off the Dadupur Nalvi irrigation scheme without legal provisions was another miscalculation. It gave the opposition an opportunity to attack the government.

The Jat quota issue has become an albatross around Khattar’s neck.

Unable to resolve Jat quota issue, law passed to grant reservation remains untenable: The law enacted to grant reservation to Jats remains legally untenable and the quota issue has become an albatross around Khattar’s neck with Jat leaders threatening the government every now and then.

Sluggish decision-making: The pace of taking decisions and implementing them has left a lot to be desired primarily because of Khattar’s own lack of experience and administrative acumen and too much reliance on a go-ahead from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)..