Khattar govt’s upcoming Chintan Shivir at a pvt hill resort draws flak

State govt will end up shelling out ₹1012 lakhs on rooms, ₹910 lakhs on meals

CHANDIGARH: The mantra of austerity seems to be gradually getting lost. The first time BJP government in Haryana led by a first time MLA and pracharak of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), Manohar Lal Khattar, once drew pride in being cost conscious. But not anymore.

The Khattar government is drawing flak for planning to hold a three-day Chintan Shivir (workshop on governance issues), for bureaucrats and ministers at an upscale private resort, Timber Trail Heights, in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh from December 15 to 17.

As per a tentative estimate, the state government will end up shelling at least ₹10-12 lakhs on hiring rooms at the hill resort for two nights besides spending about ₹9-10 lakhs on vegetarian meals sans liquor.

It is expected that around 100 people, including ministers, IAS, IPS and IFS officers, along with other officials and security personnel will be present at the three-day Shivir.

While the officers have been asked to share rooms, there is no clarity yet on the accommodation for ministers. All the BJP MLAS have also been invited for lunch on the last day.

The move to hold the Shivir at the private hill resort has invited criticism from the opposition parties.

Leader of the opposition, Abhay Singh Chautala, said the government could have held the Shivir at Haryana Tourism resorts at Surajkund in Faridabad or Morni in Panchkula.

“On one hand chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar preaches austerity by travelling in economy class but on the other hand, the state government does not

shy away from splurging on the tax payers money by organising an event at a private resort and that too in another state,’’ said Chautala.

The INLD leader said the Chintan Shivir will bring out no results.

“If they really intend to do something for the people, then they should show results. If we come to power, we will recover the public money spent by this government on party affairs like

these,’’ Chautala warned.

Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda too criticised the move to hold a government event at a private resort in a neighbouring state.

“The law and order situation is so grim. They should think more about it. The BJP only knows three things—charcha (discussion), bhojan ( meals) and vishram (rest),’’ said Hooda ridiculing the move to have Shivir.