Amit Shah backs under-fire Haryana CM Khattar in Jind

Alleging that central funds used to go down the "gutter of corruption" under the Congress rule, BJP chief Amit Shah today said Haryana has got an honest and transparent government led by Chief Minister M L Khattar after a long time.

"Congress people ask us 'from where do you get so much money to give the state'. "We tell them even they used to give, but the difference is that they distributed it to their cronies and we give it to Haryana state," Shah said addressing "Yuva Hunkar" (youth power) rally here in which besides 63-year-old Khattar, many of his ministerial colleagues, party legislators and workers reached the venue riding motorcycles. BJP leaders claimed that over a lakh bikers participated in the event, seen as an attempt by the BJP to consolidate its hold on Jind and adjoining areas including Rohtak and Sonepat, strongholds of the predominant Jat community.

Jind is also considered to be the nerve centre of Haryana politics. "In this state, chief ministers have gone to jail for corruption and here is Chief Minister Khattar against whom not even a single charge of corruption has been levelled," Shah said. Under the Congress rule, "the money used to go down the gutter of corruption. But now it flows from the Centre's treasury into states' coffers," Shah said, adding that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar needs to be congratulated for giving a corruption-free and transparent regime after a long time in the state.

Hitting out at the previous Congress government, Shah alleged that "transfer industry used to flourish in Haryana, but now the entire system has been made online and jobs are given on merit." Referring to the opposition Congress deciding to hold protests demanding that the BJP give an account of its four-year rule, Shah said, "We don't need to give any reply to the Congress, I have come here to give account to the people of Haryana." Shah said that Haryana had got liberal funds from the Centre under the Narendra Modi government, and the Khattar government was giving a transparent regime to ensure all-round development.

Referring to former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Shah said "Listen Hoodaji, I come here with all accounts to be put before the people. "When the Congress ruled at the Centre and in Haryana, the state got Rs 14,900 crore under 13th Finance Commission and when Modi government came, under 14th Finance Commission the state got Rs 42,000 crore," he said. "In addition, the state has got funds and grants under different schemes worth Rs 34,000 crore more under the Modi government compared to the previous regime," Shah said. He alleged that rulers in the past exploited people over caste lines for vote-bank politics, but the Khattar government was taking every section along for all-round development in the state.

"In 2014, you gave mandate to Modi ji and later to Khattar ji, I want to say both these governments gave you a corruption-free regime. "Rs 12 lakh crore worth scams and corruption happened during Congress-led governments at the Centre and in Haryana and they were shown the door by the people of this country. We have been in power for four years now, but even our opponents have not been able to level any corruption charge at us," Shah said. Shah said the every section including the rural poor and farmers feel "that this government is their own".
He said in 2018-19 Union budget, a bold decision of fixing support prices for crops at 50 per cent higher than the cost of production has been made. He said no Congress government took such a step earlier even though they sought votes from farmers.

Shah said that even 'one-rank one-pension' for ex-servicemen had been lingering for decades, but Modi Government took this decision within one year of coming to power. He said the Modi Government has also brought Ayushman Bharat Yojana to provide quality and affordable health care to nearly 50 crore people across the country. This scheme "Namo Care" (Modicare), billed as the world's largest government-funded health care programme, is a path-breaking initiative of the central government which would bring a paradigm shift in the health sector, he said.

Shah also touched upon other schemes and initiatives of the central government for the poor, women and other sections including insurance, rural electrification and toilet facility for all. "If one starts to talk about all schemes for various sections launched by the Modi and Khattar governments, it will require a week to do so and still that time may not be enough..," Shah said. Praising the Khattar government, he said Haryana has become kerosene-free. The state took a bold decision to introduce minimum qualification criteria for candidates contesting panchayat elections, he said Shah also lauded the efforts of government towards improving sex ratio.

He told party workers to ensure that BJP wins all the 10 Lok Sabha seats from Haryana in 2019. "Today the BJP rules 19 states. Let results (of states going to polls) come on 3rd, these will become 21," he said.He said Prime Minister Modi wants to create an India "as dreamt by our freedom fighters, our brave soldiers defending our borders, the poor, farmers and school going girls".
Meanwhile, foundation stone laying ceremony of 16 party offices across the state was held and Shah inaugurated one office here. Shah had also camped for three days in Rohtak in August last year as part of his visit to states to strategise and find ways to strengthen the party at the grass-root level.

At the outset, the BJP chief today said, "Haryana is the land of the brave soldiers, farmers, players and the youth. Brave soldiers from the state guard the country's frontiers and have given supreme sacrifices for the sake of this nation." He also said Haryana helps meet foodgrain needs of the nation."Haryana tops in bringing laurels in international and national sports events including wrestling," he said.