No more regionalism in Haryana: CM Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said the days of dividing the state on the basis of caste and region had ended after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power last year.

"While the state was divided on the basis of caste and region before the present government came to power, it is now gaining fame as 'Haryana Ek-Haryanvi Ek'. This is a big achievement for the state," Khattar said.

The chief minister was addressing a gathering during the inaugural function of the Harmony-2015 International Cultural Festival, organised by the National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists (NIFAA) in Karnal.

Khattar said the BJP government was ensuring equitable development in the state and no particular region was being favoured as was done earlier.

"Our civilisation and culture hold special recognition at the international level. The moral and social norms inherent in our culture and cultural values keep guiding us," the chief minister said.

"Art and cultural programmes infuse new hope and enthusiasm into our lives by giving a break from the routine. There is a need for expression and presentation of moral values and ideals in the arts," he added.