‘One thing I can guarantee people is sunvayee’ THE EXPRESS INTERVIEW NAYAB SINGH SAINI CHIEF MINISTER, HARYANA

IN THE hot seat with a few weeks to go for the Lok Sabha elections, the newly appointed Haryana Chief Minister NAYAB SINGH SAINI says he plans to take forward the legacy of his predecessormanoharlalkhattarandkeep an open door policy. In a freewheeling conversation, he tells MANRAJ GREWAL SHARMA and SUKHBIR SIWACH that will ensure that no one in “my state” goes unheard. Excerpts:

You have been given the responsibility of CM ahead of elections. How do you view it?

I have always performed whatever responsibility the party has given me to the best of my ability. I believe in taking everyone along. I have never turned people away even if they come knocking at my door at midnight. That’s why they think ‘Saini mera aadmi hai’ (he's our man).

Now that you are the CM of the state, will things change?

I want to keep my doors open. One thing I can guarantee people is ‘sunvayee’ (a hearing). Sunvayee to jaroor honi chahiye. I have told my security personnel to not stop anyone from meeting me. A large number of people have had direct contact with me. When I was named the state party president, it took me five and half hours to cover a distance of just 350 metres to reach the party office in Kurukshetra from my residence because so many people had turned up to greet me.

What is it that you would like to do on priority as the CM?

Manohar Lal ji has left an unparalleled legacy. No CM has accomplished all that he has, and no one will be able to match him. He has introduced such processes that the state will continue to reap their benefits for a long time. I have worked with him very closely. He has such a clear vision for the state. We just have to carry forward his legacy.

How do you view the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and the Opposition charge that democracy is in danger?

Everything is happening as per the law. ED was operational during the Congress regime as well but it used to pick and choose, and target only the less powerful. People had begun to think that anti-corruption laws are only for the poor. In the last 10 years of Modi rule, people have realised that the law is uniform for everyone. If the Modi government were to really use ED as its hand-maiden, not a single Congress leader would have been left untouched. The Modi government has zero tolerance towards the corrupt. Thanks to it, the benefits of all schemes are reaching the bank accounts of the poor.

There is a feeling that Kuldeep Bishnoi and the Bhajan Lal family have been ignored.

No, we have made his son Bhavya Bishnoi a vidhayak (MLA). He is not upset. Manohar Lal ji is expected to visit him soon. I also speak to him regularly.

How about former home minister Anil Vij?

When I was zila adhyaksh (district president) from Ambala, I would seek his counsel whenever there was any work. And he used to guide me. Even when I was made the Haryana BJP chief, I called on him. I met him after being sworn in. I have always said that we will seek the blessings of the elders, keep our peers together, and get the cooperation of the young to move forward.

Many Congress workers are joining BJP in Punjab. Are you anticipating a similar movement in Haryana?

(Ludhiana MP) Ravneet Bittu (heswitchedfromcongresstobjp lastmonth)isafriendbecausewe used to sit close to each other in Parliament. Mann sahib’s (CM Bhagwant Mann, who was Sangrurmptill2022)seatwasalso justacrossanarrowgallery.mann infactcalleduptocongratulateme afteriwasswornin.ijokinglysaid thatnotforwork,butunofficiallyi must have tea with you.

Did fear of anti-incumbency prompt the Centre to change the ministry in Haryana?

No, that’s not true. There is no anti-incumbency and we will win all 10 seats with a big margin.