Simple & well-meaning

It is too early to judge Manohar Lal Khattar's functioning as Haryana's Chief Minister but his views expressed in The Tribune interview do reveal the man a little and what he proposes to do. In sharp contrast to the extravagance and high-profile lifestyle and security of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister of the near-bankrupt neighbouring state, Khattar has refused to buy an aircraft for his personal use and travels to Delhi by Shatabdi. A simple man with a humble background, Khattar will not, hopefully, waste the taxpayers' money on luxuries for himself or his ministers. Like Badal, he loves to interact with people through "Janata Durbars". This practice may be political useful, but a Chief Minister is supposed to make his government staff deliver at the district and tehsil levels so that there is no need for people with grievances to bother him. Being in alliance, will the two CMs be able to sort out inter-state issues amicably?
The BJP had made the Vadra land deals an election issue, accusing the previous Congress government of bestowing favours on the son-in-law of the party president. While the CM's efforts to bring in transparency in the grant of CLUs (change of land use-a known source of corruption) and registration of public properties are laudable, he cannot now bury the Vadra issue. Either he must haul him up for a breach of the law, if any, or issue him a clean chit. Silence or running away from the controversy is not an option. Khattar's commitment to end corruption through an extensive use of technology is welcome. Will it translate into action?
Given his RSS links, it is but natural to assume that the CM would carry forward the agenda of the BJP's parent organisation. His real test would be when faced with a conflict of interest between his government and Hindutva proponents. Before and after elections, the BJP has been soft towards deras. The government's enforcement of the rule of law with regard to temples, Hindutva elements and deras will remain under scrutiny.