‘Emphasis on redressing concerns of farmers, traders, youths in 5 yrs’

| | CHANDIGARH
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‘Emphasis on redressing concerns of farmers, traders, youths in 5 yrs’

Sunday, 25 August 2019 | MANOJ KUMAR | CHANDIGARH

Kanwar Pal Gujjar, Speaker of the Haryana Legislative Assembly says all round development has been taken place at a rapid pace in five years of BJP-led government in the State with focus and emphasis on redressing concerns of all the sections of society. "The party will go to the people under the visionary leader Manohar Lal Khattar with only agenda of development in the upcoming Assembly election," he says.

Senior BJP leader and two-time Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Jagadhari Vidhan Sabha Constituency, Kanwar Pal was unanimously elected as a speaker of 13th Haryana assembly on November 3, 2014.

Cutting across party lines, Speaker Kanwar Pal was appreciated for his smooth conduct in the House by leaders of ruling and opposition parties on the last day of the Haryana Assembly session. Senior Congress leader and former speaker Raghubir Singh Kadian said, “Speaker Kanwar Pal’s conduct in all the Assembly sessions in five years was remarkable and appreciable. He was very humble and honest in his work during the session. He has given equal change to all legislators including opposition to raise public issues during session. New legislators were also given equal chance to raise public issues.”

Kanwar Pal says that it was BJP’s manifesto to scrap Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. Party got the majority at the Centre and Article 370 and 35A were scrapped from Jammu and Kashmir. This decision was nothing to do with the Assembly election in Haryana and other states of the country.

Speaker has special love for children and always keens to promoter of education specially the girls. He always used to say that if girl gets education they will educate the two families (Her father and her in-laws families). He stress on quality education that can make the nation great and fulfill the requirement of our society.

In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, Kanwar Pal Gujjar reveals his political journey, his experience as a Speaker as well as his strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls.  Excerpts from the interview:

Have you been associated with RSS before joining BJP? When did you think of joining politics? How has been your political journey so far?

Since school days, I was interested in politics. I was student leader and also contested election of students’ union in Maharaja Aggarsain College, Jagadhri. I had done my graduation from Kurukshetra University. I was also a very keen sportsman in college days. I was elected as a president of students union in Maharaja Aggarsain College, Jagadhri.

Initially, my family was associated with Congress party. An incident changed my life forever. There was a programme of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) firebrand leader Sadhvi Rithambara in my district Jagadhri in 1990 and I had attended her programme. Her speech was patriotic and motivational. I got motivated from her speech and took membership of RSS and later joined BJP.

I was very much concern about farmers’ distress and I also led agitation several times at various levels. Later I was elected as the president of Jagadhari district Kisan union.

In 1991, I contested the election first time as BJP candidate and lost the election by 4000 votes. In 1996, I again lost the election by 520 votes. But in 2000, I secured victory in Assembly election.

Haryana and Punjab have been fighting over water over many decades. He along six other BJP MLAs had resigned in 2004 after Punjab State Legislature brought the Punjab Termination Agreement Act scrapping all water-sharing agreements with neighbouring states including Haryana. In 2009, I lost the election. In 2014, I won the election by 40, 000 votes from Jagadhari.

How was your experience as a Speaker in Haryana Assembly?

I express special thanks to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar who had helped me in conducting the Assembly session smoothly. CM agreed whenever I told him to extend the sittings or timings of the Session. I tried my best to give equal opportunity to all the House members to raise public concerns in the assembly.

Would you like to become Speak of the Haryana Assembly again if BJP forms the next government in the State in 2019?

I am sure and certain that my party will form the government in the state with full majority. As a discipline member of the party, I will obey party’s decision. Whatsoever responsibility will be given to me, I would execute the work with dedication and honesty.

Being a Speaker and MLA of Jagadhari, how do you assess your five- year- old government under Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar?

I have known CM Khattar for the last 25 years. When he was named in the race of CM of Haryana in 2014, I had my own opinion and firm believe that he would be the best CM of the State. After becoming CM, he has shown his capability and dedication through public works in the last five years. Whosoever (may be the leaders of ruling party or opposition party), meet CM, he only talks about work. Genuine work put before him by leaders are addressed swiftly. He has capacity to work for the people through day and night. He is known for his quick and impartial decision making capability.

BJP has set the target of 75+ for the upcoming assembly election- 2019. How would you achieve it? Would you seek help of central leadership in the coming election?

Unfortunately, opposition leaders are fighting themselves over leadership issue. Opposition parties are completely divided. It is not a healthy sign of democracy. Moreover, frustrated with this, many leaders of INLD, Independent and others have wished to work on BJP’s agenda and later joined BJP. It is the responsibility of the opposition party to fight unitedly to give strong contest in the Assembly election.  Moreover, our party has focused on development only in five years. We would definitely seek help of centre leadership. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is moving fast in all terms. Image of the country has enhanced at World level. Now world leaders are following India. Our party has set the target of winning 75+ seats   in the upcoming election. I am confident of winning 75+ seats in the upcoming election.

It is said that politics is a 24 hours job. Are you able to give sufficient time to your family?

I regret that I have not given enough time to my family. It is true that politics is a 24 hours job. I have given maximum time to public life. I believe that if your intention is good and work unbiased, people will support you and send you in the Assembly.

What are the works you have done for your constituency?

To provide quality education to girl students, our government has given worth Rs three crore to Gujjar Kanya Vidya Mandir for its upgradation. I live with the people of the constituency and am always available for them. All round development has been taken place in my constituency.

Are you satisfied with the works done by your government in five years?

Yes, I am satisfied with works done by the BJP-led government in five years. Most of the Party’s election manifesto of 2014 has been completed. Schemes like ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ empowerment of panchayats finically, ‘Padha Likha Panchayat’ among others have been effectively executed. Issues which will be included BJP’s vision document will also be implemented transparently and effectively after forming next government.

Opposition parties say your government has failed to provide job to unemployed youth. Was the condition of farmers improved in five years?  

I will not comment on what opposition leaders say. The leaders of opposition parties are divided and are fighting themselves over leadership issue. They have failed to raise a single issue concerning to the people of the state.  Moreover, if you study the data of the last five years then you will find that our government has succeeded in providing job to the youths. In comparison to previous government, the condition of farmers has improved in the state. Farmers are stress free and are receiving benefits from government welfare scheme.

89171 farmers filed their claims under the localised calamity of PMFBY during kharif 2017 to Kharif 2018. An amount of Rs 133.6 crore was settled as claim of 58463 farmers. The remaining applications were rejected as the reasons were not covered under the localized category for which they were staking their claim.

BJP has started a vision document drive. We will make Haryana exactly as the people of the state want. The vision document is a roadmap of the development for the next five years in the state. The objective of vision document was to seek suggestions from people about ‘Hamare Sapnao ka Haryana’ which will be incorporated in the Vision. The party will prepare its manifesto for the assembly elections on the basis of people’s expectations.

You have directed four rebel MLAs of INLD to reply to their disqualification notice move by the party by August 20. When final decision will be taken?

I have given sufficient time to the four rebel MLAs of INLD, named Naina Chautala from Dabwali, Anoop Dhankar from Uklana, Rajdeep Fogat from Dadri and Pirathi Singh Numberdar from Narwana and asked to reply to their disqualification notice move by the party. Decision over this issue will be taken soon. All have been asked to present at the hearing on August 27.

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