Hry VS polls to be held on time: CM

While giving rest to the speculations about holding simultaneous elections of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Wednesday said that the Vidhan Sabha elections in the State would be held on time.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a function organized to honour Haryana police for their exemplary work towards the safety of citizens here.

While Lok Sabha polls are scheduled in May 2019, the assembly polls in Haryana are likely to be held in October2019.

On the issue of Chandigarh being joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, Manohar Lal said that the issue dates back to 1966 when Haryana was carved out of Punjab as a separate state. He said it was during that time the issue of Chandigarh should have been decided.

Haryana has staked its claim over Chandigarh and is not going to retreat, he said.

The Chief Minister further said that he has recommended the setting up of Tri-city Development Board on the pattern of NCR-Planning Board so that the citizens of Panchkula, Chandigarh and Mohali do not suffer for want of facilities and other amenities.

I would take up this issue with the Union Home Minister and other Central Ministers to make necessary arrangements for tricity “, he added.

Manohar Lal further said that during the tenure of present State Government so far, various initiatives have been taken not only to ensure the physical development of state but also bring about a positive change in the mindset of the people.

“We would not stop and would undertake more work in the second tenure. I am confident that the BJP would form government in both Centre as well as in Haryana for the second consecutive term”, he added.

On BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate, he said that the party and its members would decide as who would be the face of BJP in the next assembly elections in the state. 

“His aim to contest elections was not to become Chief Minister but to serve the people of the state. During the last about four years, he spent maximum time at headquarter in Chandigarh to review the progress of various schemes and also among the people in districts rather than camping at Delhi to settle political scores as their predecessors in the state used to do,” Manohar Lal said.

On the issue of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, he said, efforts are being made to get early execution orders from the Supreme Court in the matter of SYL canal so that the state could get its legitimate share of river waters.

The Chief Minister further said that the present State Government has fast tracked the hearing on Presidential reference on SYL which was lying pending in Supreme Court for the last 12 years. The Apex Court has given its decision in favour of Haryana but the execution orders are still pending with the Court. We are trying to get early execution orders from the Court, he said.

Though Haryana’s share of water is already fixed but Punjab is creating unnecessary delay in giving waters. Efforts are being made to ensure that matter is resolved through mutual consent, Manohar Lal added.

While referring to the Lakhwar multi-purpose project, the Chief Minister said that the project which would take off after a gap of 42 years is going to benefit all the six states.

He said that the plenty of water flown away during these years and had the states agreed to the water sharing earlier, this water could have been utilized.

The Chief Minister also said that the present State Government has laid special emphasis on further improving the policing system in Haryana.

As police is considered the face of the government, we have implemented a Transparent Recruitment Process (TRP). Haryana is the first state to give weekly off to the police personnel. Similarly, the participation of women in the police force has been increased to 6 per cent to 8 per cent and it would be further increased to 20 per cent, he added.