‘Changes to (Khattar govt’s) policies are part of correctional measures… People had some grievances… The amendments are in the interest of the public’: Haryana BJP chief

The BJP saw a dip in its vote share in Haryana by as much as 12% from 2019 to 2024 Lok Sabha polls (58% to 46%). How do you plan to overcome this?

We got 46% votes in the Lok Sabha polls. Our focus is to raise it by 2%. Ideally, we should reach the 50% vote share mark, but 48% is sufficient to ensure that we form the government in Haryana for the third time with absolute majority. In the 2019 Assembly polls, we had won 40 seats after getting 37% votes, and this rose to 46% in the Lok Sabha polls. We are confident of increasing it further and forming the government.

Why has CM Saini reversed several decisions of ex-CM Manohar Lal Khattar since the Lok Sabha polls?

The changes to existing government policies are part of the correctional measures we are taking. People had some grievances and were facing some issues in existing schemes, and this is the reason they were modified. We haven’t shut down any running scheme, we are just making amendments in the interest of the public, to enhance their convenience.

What did you discuss with the PM at your meeting?

We discussed the ongoing political situation in Haryana. Party workers should step out into the field and spread awareness on welfare policies of our government. Everybody’s participation is required to further strengthen the party and achieve our goal of again forming the government.

The Supreme Court has stayed the directives issued by officials in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners. How do you see this row?

What is wrong in displaying the name of the owner? It is good practice and should be implemented. Whoever owns a shop / eatery, there is no harm if the owner’s name is displayed on it. It should be there.

Were you being extra cautious in imposing the Internet ban on Monday for the Brajmandal Yatra in Nuh this year?

A few people instigated riots during the Yatra last year. This time, Muslim brothers also participated in the Yatra. Everything went peacefully. The Internet was shut down by the government due to security reasons, so that nobody could spread any misinformation or hate messages

A Punjabi from Haryana (Khattar) in the Union Cabinet, an OBC (Saini) as CM, a Brahmin as state president and two more OBCs (Krishan Pal, Rao Inderjit Singh) as MoS. Has the party balanced caste equations for the Haryana polls?

Our government is working with the principle of Antyodaya. Last man standing in the queue should be seen, heard and should benefit. There are several small communities who did not have any recognition or representation in political decision-making, nor any political security or participation. To take care of such communities, and to ensure they too contribute to the country’s progress, the BJP always keeps making such changes, not just in Haryana but across the country, to ensure such communities also get political representation.

Will the ongoing farmers’ agitation impact the polls?

Most of their issues have already been settled. Yet it is still construed as if we are speaking against all farmers. Actually, the word farmer encompasses a wide variety of people. Ours is an agricultural economy. The protesting farmers are a specific section, with their own ideology. The BJP is the only party that has done unprecedented work for farmers’ welfare. The Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana has benefited farmers in the entire country, irrespective of caste, area where they come from, or religion they follow. It is our responsibility to think and work for their welfare. We are following PM Modi’s slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas’. Our government is always ready for talks (with farmers).

The Congress says recent ED raids on their MLAs are political vendetta…

The media is there, people are watching everything. Government agencies are only doing their job. It’s happening not only in Haryana, but across the country. When hundreds of crores of rupees in cash are recovered from (Congress leaders’) residences during raids, everybody gets to know who is in the wrong. It is the responsibility of the probe agencies to catch people who have committed wrongs.

The Central government has lifted the bar on its employees participating in RSS activities…

I welcome the decision. The RSS is the world’s largest non-political organisation. It is involved in social service and is completely non-political. If people want to participate in its activities, they should be allowed. It is good that now all government employees shall be able to participate in such activities.