Haryana govt’s conclave in hill station flayed

Chandigarh: The Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana is under attack and this time for its gimmickry. The state government held a two-day chintan shivir, which ended on Sunday, on governance reforms at a luxury resort in Himachal Pradesh.

Facing Opposition attacks for wastage of public money, government officials maintained that only vegetarian food and no alcoholic drinks were served to the delegates.

Giving details about the chintan shivir, the chief minister said, “The special session was organised to prepare a blue print of new Haryana through deliberations on issues of development. Development works and other schemes also came up for a review at the session.”

He added, “The brainstorming sessions, held at a private resort, Timber Trail, in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh, were organised to come up with new ideas to speed up  development in the state. The government is quite serious about development and bringing investment to the state and I have already addressed two sessions and 13 meetings for the purpose during my recent 48-hour visit to Dubai.”

According to sources, the state government ended up shelling at least Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 12 lakhs on hiring rooms at the hill resort for two nights besides and spending Rs 9 lakhs to Rs 10 lakhs on vegetarian meals without liquor. It is estimated that around 100 people, including ministers, IAS, IPS and IFS officers along with other officials and security personnel, were present at the conclave. All this — to deliberate on issues of development of the state.  

The chief minister addressed the participants on the opening day, groups of participants were asked to discuss the strategy to be adopted for implementing the vision of the chief minister. There were cultural programmes, followed by dinner, on both the evenings. The participants also had the option to do yoga in the morning between 6 am and 7 am.

The move to hold the chintan shivir at the private resort has invited criticism from the Opposition parties.  Leader of the Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala said the government could have held the chintan shivir at one of the Haryana Tourism resorts. “On the one hand, Mr Khattar preaches austerity by travelling in economy class, but on the other hand, the state government does not shy away from splurging the tax payers money by organising an event at a private resort and that too in another state,” he added.

Criticising the government, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress said, “The law and order situation is grim. They should think more about it. The BJP only knows three things - charcha (discussion), bhojan (meals) and vishram (rest).”