In last-ditch effort before polls, Khattar plays ‘Punjabi card’

Eyeing the crucial Punjabi voters, who hold a significant presence in the Karnal Assembly segment, both the BJP and the Congress have intensified their efforts in the final leg of the campaign. In a high-profile outreach programme, former CM and Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar emphasised the BJP’s “commitment towards the Punjabi community” as Congress leaders accused Khattar of neglecting it.

Addressing a Punjabi convention late Wednesday evening, Khattar accused a Congress leader (without naming anyone) of using derogatory remarks against him and urged community members to take revenge for this insult.

“I was elected as the CM, but they could not digest it. They said ‘Khattar-Pattar, jahe se aaye ho, vahi baad denge, jis bill se aaye ho, usi bill me bhej denge (you will be sent back where you came from)’. You must take revenge from the Congress for this insult with your vote,” said Khattar.

Khattar was addressing the community members in support of BJP candidate from Karnal Jagmohan Anand.

Congress leaders countered his remark, calling it a mere political stunt. They alleged that Khattar always plays the “Punjabi card” during the elections. Congress leader and former Deputy Mayor Manoj Wadhwa, while interacting with mediapersons, said that after taking office, Khattar had once said he would not use the name ‘Khattar’. He used to say ‘Haryana Ek, Haryanvi Ek,’ and now, he is focusing on his Punjabi roots. “He is trying to polarise the votes of Punjabis, but the Punjabis are intelligent and they would not be influenced by his statement. Either his slogan of ‘Haryana Ek, Haryanvi Ek’ is a drama or his love for Punjabis is a drama,” he said, questioning him to clear his stand.

“Even during the last mayoral election, he played this card, claiming to be a prominent Punjabi,” Wadhwa said.

Congress leader and Punjabi Mahasabha district president Parag Gaba said that Khattar did not care about Punjabis during his tenure as the CM, but now he is trying to portray himself as their sympathizer. “All Punjabis are aware of his real stance,” Gaba said.

Congress leader advocate Harish Arya added that the Punjabi community was now fully aware of Khattar’s intentions.

CONG QUESTIONS HIS ‘HARYANA EK...’ SLOGAN

After assuming office, Khattar had once said he would not use the name ‘Khattar’. He used to say ‘Haryana Ek, Haryanvi Ek,’ and now, he is focusing on his Punjabi roots. — Manoj Wadhwa, EX-DY MAYOR, KARNAL