‘Farmers Our Brothers, Misled By A Handful’

In the midst of the Covid ­pandemic, Haryana is also facing many challenges on the socio-economic front. For more than 100 days, areas of the state bordering Delhi have been the epicentre of the farmers’ agitation against three new farm laws enacted by the Centre. And in the assembly, the Congress tried to move a no-confidence motion against the BJP-JJP coalition government over the issue, but failed to take it ­forward. CM Manohar Lal Khattar tells Harish Manav that he is confident his ­government will complete five years in power. Excerpts from the interview:

Over three months, Haryana’s farmers have been on a warpath against the new farm laws. Twelve rounds of talks haven’t broken the deadlock. Have you given any suggestion to your party’s central leadership in this matter?

Only 40 people are misleading thousands of farmers. Earlier, their demand was only for a guarantee on MSP and our government is already purchasing six crops under MSP. Now they are not only demanding the repeal of the farm laws, but also asking to raise the price of milk to Rs 100 per litre and free up the toll plaza. Misled by their leaders, they are destroying their ready-to-harvest wheat crop.

Your government has offered welfare schemes to the ­farmers, but those haven’t managed to convince them on the farm laws. Why?

We know some farmers and khap panchayats have ­publicly boycotted BJP-JJP leaders. Yet we see the ­farmers as our brothers. The deadlock would be broken when they understand ­reality. Considering the ­current environment, ­especially with the farmers being restless, the government has laid special emphasis on welfare schemes. From time to time, I have been ­monitoring the progress of schemes like Meri Fasal, Mera Byora, Atal Bhujal Yojna and Mera Pani, Meri Viraasat. We rolled out so many special measures to help farmers in this pandemic. For example, 2,000 wheat and 248 ­mustard procurement ­centres were set up, and an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh was given to farmers and commission agents working in the mandis.

Your recent nod to 75 per cent reservation for natives of Haryana in the private sector was criticised by ­corporates and industrial associations. At the same time, your government is seeking fresh investments under the Haryana ­Enterprises Employment Policy, 2020?

Reservation for locals is a constitutional provision and already being implemented by seven states, including Andhra Pradesh and ­Maharashtra. But we are not so rigid in implementing it. Deputy commissioners have been delegated the power of relaxation if any employer fails to find appropriately skilled manpower.

What are the focus areas of the budget you will present this month and what steps are being taken for post-Covid economic revival?

The health and agriculture sectors have been of foremost concern, though Covid ­disrupted life in all spheres over the past year and more. Several steps were taken to fight the pandemic on a war footing because of which Haryana saw a recovery rate of around 98.33 per cent, while fatality rate remained as low as 1.1 per cent. On the economy front, there have been disruptions due to Covid all over the country and across the world. ­Haryana has been no ­exception, but our government has already drawn up a blueprint for economic revival and it will unfold in the budget. Industrial ­resurgence and employment ­generation would be two main goals to help the ­economy swing back. There have been a few challenges, but we are making sure that whatever disruptions ­happened during the time of Covid are set right as soon as possible. The coming financial year is going to be far more promising than the previous one because a new normal has been found to keep the economy on the upswing. I can promise that Haryana’s economy would emerge as an example for the country.