Corruption, favouritism rampant during previous regimes in Haryana: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that corruption and favouritism ruled the roost during previous regimes in Haryana, but the M L Khattar-led BJP government in the state has brought transparency in all spheres.

During the course of his 34-minute speech, most part of which he dedicated in heaping praise on Khattar and his government, Rajnath Singh equated the chief minister to a 'faqir' (ascetic) who dedicated his entire life towards public service.

The defence minister said Khattar had from time to time given account of the work of his government and would do the same while touring different assembly constituencies of the state during Jan Ashirwad Yatra, which was flagged off on Sunday. The yatra will culminate at Rohtak on September 8.

"We do politics where we can see eye-to-eye with public and not put dust into their eyes by making false promises and misleading them," he said while addressing a public rally here ahead of the assembly polls, which are due in October.

Hitting out at previous dispensations in the state, Rajnath Singh said, "Earlier, such conditions prevailed that nothing used to move without money and without corruption. There was corruption in giving jobs and favouritism ruled the roost."
Equating Khattar to a 'faqir' (ascetic), the defence minister said, "After the BJP got majority votes in the Haryana Assembly polls in 2014, the BJP Parliamentary Board took the decision to hand over the reins of government in the state to Khattar, whom I have known for 30 years and who has dedicated his entire life to serving people."
Appealing to people to help the BJP realise its target of winning 75 plus seats in the upcoming assembly polls, the chief minister said, "In a democratic set up, one has to go to people to renew license (seek re-election) and we are confident that people will once again bring us back to power."