Satyamevpuram: Chautala gifts dist, wins name game

However, no details were available about which areas would be included in the new district and also on officials to be deputed on key posts. ‘‘Mewat is one of the most backward areas in the state. By creating a new district here, we hope to bring the administration closer to the people,’’ said Chautala. ‘‘The idea is to lessen the distance between the masses and the government and the costs involved,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, the name chosen for the new district has already generated a lot of interest among the people (mostly Meos) in Mewat. Many of them were jubilant over the fact that the new name has the word ‘‘Mev’’ in it. Chautala too played to the gallery by keeping name of the new district in suspense till the end. Speaking to the media, he said: ‘‘I will only announce it from the stage.’’

The BJP had opposed the move to name the new district ‘‘Mewat’’, as it would have given a communal colour. Then there was speculation that the name could either be of Nuh or Ferozepur Jhirka. With today’s announcement, Chautala seems to have hit a masterstroke by coining a name that also has the word ‘‘Mev’’ in it. Although, while announcing the name, Chautala made it clear that INLD is a secular party and ‘‘…since we are followers of Gandhiji, we have chosen a name from the words Satyamev Jayate used by him..’’

He also took care to thwart any attempts to dub this as a move to appease minorities in wake of Assembly elections. Rajya Sabha MP and NCM chairman Tarlochan Singh, who shared the platform with Chautala, said: ‘‘The fact is that Mewat is the most backward area in this region and if it has to be developed, it needs measures like these.”