Amid CM chair claimants, Amit Shah backs Nayab Singh Saini and his ‘new vision for Haryana’

FARIDABAD: Union home minister Amit Shah threw his weight behind CM Nayab Singh Saini while launching BJP's poll campaign in south Haryana on Tuesday, days after two senior party functionaries publicly declared their aspirations to be considered for the state's top post.
At the rallies in Bhiwani's Loharu and Faridabad, Shah listed the welfare schemes introduced by BJP in Haryana over the decade and repeatedly credited them to CM Saini.
"Nayab Singh Saini is moving forward with a vision for a new Haryana," Shah said.
His remarks come at a time when Union minister of state Rao Inderjit Singh and former Haryana minister Anil Vij have projected themselves as the CM face. BJP has maintained for long that Saini will remain at the helm if the party is elected for a third straight term.
There was no mention of former CM Manohar Lal Khattar, who led BJP govts in the state for most of the two consecutive terms since 2014, in Shah's speeches on Tuesday. Saini was appointed CM this April after Khattar was given a Lok Sabha ticket from the party.
Hitting out at Congress, Shah said BJP brought transparency to govt recruitments in the state and ended the system of "kharchi-parchi" – a term used by the party for years to refer to the alleged cash-for-jobs practice under previous govts.
The home minister's speeches sought to counter criticism on all fronts — from opposition by farmers to the Agniveer scheme — which analysts believe could hurt BJP in the Oct 5 polls.
BJP, which has been in power in Haryana for a decade, has an uphill task of battling anti-incumbency in the state. The party also lost five of Haryana's 10 parliamentary seats in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. It had won all ten in the 2019 general elections.
On the accusation that BJP would set aside reservation, a poll issue that opposition parties harped on before the Lok Sabha election, Shah said it was Congress that wanted to end SC/ST quota in Jammu & Kashmir. "No one can touch SC-ST reservations as long as Narendra Modi is in power," he said.
Shah said under the Congress govt, only four crops were procured under MSP. But BJP govt led by Nayan Singh Saini procures 24 crops under MSP, he added.
"They talk about farmers and players. But our govt has left no district without advanced facilities for sports. Now, we will head towards creating sports and training facilities in every block and tehsil," the home minister said.
Bringing up Centre's short-service scheme to join the armed forces, Shah said Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi were spreading "rumours" about Agnipath.
"Under this scheme, the Ministry of Home Affairs has reserved as many as 20% of posts in police forces. Agniveers will get jobs with pension benefits… If any Agniveer does not get a permanent job, he will not be left without a job because he will be recruited by the Haryana govt.ss Nayab Saini will ensure jobs for all Agniveers in Haryana," he said.
Agniveer, according to political experts, could be one of the reasons for voters in Haryana to turn away from BJP this election. Hundreds of youngsters in the state prepare every year to join the armed forces, with the primary motive to get a secure job and benefits such as pension.
Shah brought up revocation of special status for J&K, construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and action against terrorism.
"Neither Rahul Gandhi nor (former CM Bhupinder Singh) Hooda can reinstate Article 370. BJP believes that the part of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan is an integral part of India. Thousands of Haryana youths have sacrificed their lives for Kashmir," the home minister said.
In Loharu, the Union home minister cited BJP's contributions over the past 10 years and said the party has made Haryana "no. 1 in many aspects. It is No. 1 in per capita GST collection. It contributes 4% to the nation's economy despite being a small state. It is No. 2 in food production, and 3rd in milk production".
Concluding his address, Shah asked the crowd if they would vote for BJP. On their affirmative response, he urged them to speak louder and said: "Pakistan tak awaaz jaani chahiye (the answer should reach Pakistan)."