View source for Manohar Lal Khattar

{{short description|Indian politician (born 1954)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = 
| native_name         = 
| image               = Manohar Lal, Minister of Power.jpg
| caption             = Khattar in 2026
| office              = [[Ministry of Power (India)|Union Minister of Power]]
| predecessor         = [[R. K. Singh]]
| president = [[Droupadi Murmu]]| primeminister       = [[Narendra Modi]]
| term_start          = 10 June 2024
| office1             = [[Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs|Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs]]| president1 = [[Droupadi Murmu]]
| predecessor1        = [[Hardeep Singh Puri]]
| primeminister1      = Narendra Modi
| term_start1         = 10 June 2024
| office2             = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| termstart2          = 4 June 2024
| constituency2       = [[Karnal Lok Sabha constituency|Karnal, Haryana]]
| predecessor2        = [[Sanjay Bhatia]]
| office3             = Chief Minister of Haryana
| order3              = 10th
| term_start3         = 26 October 2014
| term_end3           = 12 March 2024
| predecessor3        = [[Bhupinder Singh Hooda]]
| successor3          = [[Nayab Singh Saini]]
| office5             = [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Haryana Legislative Assembly]]
| termstart5          = 26 October 2014
| termend5            = 13 March 2024
| predecessor5        = Sumita Singh
| successor5          = [[Nayab Singh Saini]]
| constituency5       = [[Karnal (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karnal]]
| 
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1954|05|05|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metrojournalist.com/haryana-gets-manohar-lal-khattar-as-new-chief-minister/ |title=Haryana Gets Manohar Lal Khattar As New Chief Minister |publisher=Metro Journalist |date=21 February 2014 |access-date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141021132911/http://www.metrojournalist.com/haryana-gets-manohar-lal-khattar-as-new-chief-minister/ |archive-date=21 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| birth_place         = [[Nindana|Rohtak]], [[East Punjab|Punjab]], India<br/>(present-day [[Haryana]])
| nationality         = Indian
| party               = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| residence           = {{ubl|719, Prem Nagar, [[Karnal]]}}
| alma_mater          = [[University of Delhi]]
| occupation          = [[Politician]]
| website             = {{URL|manoharlalkhattar.in}}
}}
'''Manohar Lal Khattar''' (born 5 May 1954) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 19th [[Ministry of Power (India)|Minister of Power]] and 4th [[Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs]] since 2024. A prominent leader of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], he has served as the [[List of Chief Ministers of Haryana|10th]] [[Chief Minister of Haryana]] from 26 October 2014 until his resignation on 12 March 2024 and also served as leader of the house in legislative assembly.

In the [[2024 Indian general election]], he has been elected to the [[Lok Sabha]], the [[lower house]] of the [[Parliament of India]], from [[Karnal (Lok Sabha constituency)|Karnal]], [[Haryana]].<ref name="v829"/> While serving as Chief Minister, he represented the [[Karnal]] constituency in the [[Haryana Legislative Assembly]] from 2014 to 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/manohar-lal-khattar-resigns-as-cm-of-haryana-amid-cracks-in-bjp-jjp-alliance-11710224345746.html |title=Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and cabinet resign amid cracks in BJP-JJP alliance |work=Mint |date=12 March 2024 |access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref> He has also been a [[RSS pracharak]] and has served as the Organizational General Secretary of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party – Haryana|BJP in Haryana]] from 2000 to 2014.

==Personal life==
Khattar was born on 5 May 1954 in [[Nindana]] village of [[Meham]] tehsil in the [[Rohtak district]] of [[East Punjab]], India into a [[Punjabi Hindu]] family.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/how-the-bjp-cracked-haryana-s-caste-conundrum-11571122458510.html|title=BJP and caste equation in Haryana|date=15 October 2019|publisher=Livemint}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/the-vulnerable-punjabi-in-an-unthinkable-post-in-haryana/lite/|title=The 'vulnerable Punjabi' in an unthinkable post in Haryana|date=28 October 2014|publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref> His father, Harbans Lal Khattar, had migrated to the village from the [[Jhang district]] of [[West Punjab]] following the [[Partition of India]] in 1947. His family initially settled in the Banyani [[village]] of [[Rohtak district]] and took up farming.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhatia |first1=Varinder |date=31 January 2024 |title=No house for Haryana CM? Khattar hands over his only ancestral house in Rohtak |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/haryana-manohar-lal-khattar-rohtak-ancestral-home-library-9133096/ |work=The Indian Express |access-date=7 October 2024}}</ref>

Khattar completed his matriculation (final year of high school) from Pandit Neki Ram Sharma [[Government]] College, [[Rohtak]].<ref name="HT_Mar2024">{{cite news |title=Haryana CM Khattar resigns: A quick look back at his political journey |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/fashion/best-beardo-perfumes-for-men-top-long-lasting-fragrances-you-need-to-try-on-myntra-101728300852116.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=12 March 2024 |access-date=7 October 2024}}</ref> He then moved in with relatives in [[Delhi]], and ran a cloth shop with them near [[Sadar Bazaar, Delhi|Sadar Bazar]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Varma |first1=Gyan |date=22 October 2014 |title=Manohar Lal Khattar: From cloth merchant to Haryana's first BJP chief minister |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/HaMK6Mb8fgpMCtu5Vo8BMI/Manohar-Lal-Khattar-From-cloth-merchant-to-Haryanas-first.html |work=Mint |access-date=7 October 2024}}</ref> while completing his bachelor's degree from [[University of Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://myneta.info/haryana2014/candidate.php?candidate_id=99 | title=Profile: Manoharlal Khattar| publisher=MyNeta.com | date=19 October 2014 | access-date=21 October 2014}}</ref>

==Political career==
Khattar joined [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) in 1977 and became a full-time pracharak three years later.<ref name="IndiaToday1">{{cite web | title = Who is Manohar Lal Khattar? |work=India Today| url = https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manohar-lal-khattar-chief-minister-haryana-bjp-224076-2014-10-21 | date=21 October 2014|access-date = 21 October 2014 }}</ref> As a pracharak, he is a lifelong bachelor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/evoking-memories-of-lawless-chautala-regime-helps-bjp-win-haryana-114101900212_1.html | title=Evoking memories of lawless Chautala-regime helps BJP win Haryana | publisher=Business Standard | work=Arhis Mohan | date=21 October 2014 | access-date=21 October 2014| last1=Mohan | first1=Archis }}</ref> He worked as a full-time pracharak for 17 years before moving to BJP, in 1994.<ref name="IndiaToday1" /><ref name="HT_Mar2024"/>

During 2000–2014, Khattar was Organizational General Secretary of the BJP in Haryana. During his tenure the state unit also started publication of [[Bhajpa Ki Baat]] magazine in October 2000.<ref>{{cite web | title = Bhajpa Ki Baat is the official magazine of the Bharatiya Janata Party |work=BJPHaryana.org | url = https://www.bjpharyana.org/mag.htm/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021005125559/https://www.bjpharyana.org/mag.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 5 October 2002 |date=5 October 2002 }}</ref> He was the Chairman of BJP's Haryana Election Campaign Committee for [[2014 Indian general election|2014 Lok Sabha Elections]].<ref name="zee-accept">{{cite web |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/haryana/will-accept-decision-of-partys-parliamentary-board-says-bjps-cm-post-frontrunner-manohar-lal-khattar_1487306.html | title=Will accept decision of party's parliamentary board, says BJP's CM-post frontrunner Manohar Lal Khattar| publisher=Zee News | work=Zee Media Bureau | date=21 October 2014 | access-date=21 October 2014}}</ref> Subsequently, he became a member of BJP's National Executive Committee.<ref name="zee-accept"/><ref>{{cite web | title = Manohar Lal Khattar RSS & BJP Journey | publisher=BJPHaryana.org | url = https://www.bjpharyana.org/manoharlalkhattar.php  }}</ref>

In 2014, Khattar was nominated as BJP's candidate from [[Karnal (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karnal constituency]] for the Haryana Legislative Assembly election. The party's workers and supporters in Karnal launched a signature campaign, asking the party leadership to field a local candidate instead of him.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/BJP-workers-launch-signature-campaign-against-outsiders-in-Karnal/articleshow/41135655.cms | title=BJP workers launch signature campaign against outsiders in Karnal| publisher=Times of India | work=Anita Singh| date=21 October 2014 | access-date=21 October 2014}}</ref> His opponent, the [[Indian National Congress]] candidate and [[Deepender Singh Hooda]], accused Khattar of being an "outsider" not native to Karnal. But Modi wave helped Mr. Khattar win elections by heavy margin.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/haryana-elections-khattar-rides-on-modi-wave-congress-plays-the-outsider-card-in-karnal/505127-37-64.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141011205508/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/haryana-elections-khattar-rides-on-modi-wave-congress-plays-the-outsider-card-in-karnal/505127-37-64.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 11 October 2014|title = Haryana elections: Khattar rides on Modi wave, Congress plays the outsider card in Karnal|date = 14 October 2014|access-date = 21 October 2014|website = IBN Live|publisher = Priyanka Rathi}}</ref>

=== Chief minister (2014-2024)===
In the elections, the BJP gained a majority in Haryana for the first time, and Khattar won his maiden election by a margin of 63,736 votes. During a party meeting, his name was proposed for the [[List of Chief Ministers of Haryana|Chief Minister of Haryana]] post by Haryana BJP President [[Ram Bilas Sharma (politician)|Ram Bilas Sharma]], seconded by other strong Chief Minister of Haryana claimant [[Rao Inderjeet Singh]] and supported by many [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLAs]]. He became the BJP's first Chief Minister of Haryana after his swearing-in ceremony on 26 October 2014.<ref>{{cite web | title = Manohar Lal Khattar to be sworn in as Haryana CM on October 26 in oath ceremony at panchkula |work=India Today | url = https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manohar-lal-khattar-chief-minister-haryana-bjp-224072-2014-10-21 |date=21 October 2014| access-date = 21 October 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = BJP chooses Manohar Lal Khattar as Haryana Chief Minister|newspaper=The Economic Times | url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bjp-chooses-manohar-lal-khattar-as-haryana-chief-minister/articleshow/44897179.cms | date=21 October 2014|access-date = 21 October 2014 }}</ref>

On 27 October 2019, Khattar was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the second time, after making an alliance with [[Dushyant Chautala]]'s [[Jannayak Janta Party]] post [[2019 Haryana Legislative Assembly election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Haryana govt formation updates: Manohar Lal Khattar sworn-in for 'second innings' as CM, Dushyant Chautala takes oath deputy CM |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/manohar-lal-khattar-haryana-cm-dushyant-chautala-deputy-cm-oath-taking-ceremony-live-updates-bjps-manohar-lal-khattar-to-take-oath-as-cm-at-2-15-pm-jjps-dushyant-chautala-to-be-sworn-in-as-deputy-7559411.html |access-date=27 October 2019 |work=Firstpost |date=27 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Manohar Lal Khattar takes oath as Haryana CM for second term, Dushyant Chautala as Dy CM |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/manohar-lal-khattar-takes-oath-as-haryana-cm-for-second-term-dushyant-chautala-to-be-dy-cm/videoshow/71784262.cms |access-date=27 October 2019 |work=The Economic Times |date=27 October 2019}}</ref>

Khattar submitted his resignation to Haryana Governor [[Bandaru Dattatreya]] on 12 March 2024 after the development came amid speculation of cracks emerging in the state's ruling BJP and [[Jannayak Janta Party]] (JJP) coalition over seat sharing ahead of the [[2024 Indian general election|2024 Lok Sabha elections]],<ref name="CM Manohar Lal Khattar, cabinet resign after cracks in BJP-JJP alliance">{{cite news |title=CM Manohar Lal Khattar, cabinet resign after cracks in BJP-JJP alliance |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cracks-in-bjp-jjp-alliance-in-haryana-cm-khattar-asks-ministers-to-resign-101710221061154.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=12 March 2024 |access-date=12 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312063147/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cracks-in-bjp-jjp-alliance-in-haryana-cm-khattar-asks-ministers-to-resign-101710221061154.html |archive-date=12 March 2024}}</ref> and on 13 March he tendered his resignation from the Haryana Legislative Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sandhu |first1=Kamaljit Kaur |title=Haryana ex-Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar resigns as MLA |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ex-haryana-chief-minister-manohar-lal-khattar-resigns-as-mla-says-will-fulfill-any-new-responsibility-given-2514242-2024-03-13 |access-date=13 March 2024 |work=[[India Today]] |date=13 March 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Manohar Lal assuming charge as the Union Minister for Power.jpg|thumb|Manohar Lal assuming charge as the Union Minister for Power.]]
In March 2024, he was announced as the BJP candidate for the [[Karnal Lok Sabha constituency|Karnal constituency]] in the [[2024 Indian general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Second list of BJP candidates for ensuing General Elections 2024 to the Parliamentary Constituencies of different states finalised by BJP CEC |url=https://www.bjp.org/pressreleases/second-list-bjp-candidates-ensuing-general-elections-2024-parliamentary |website=bjp.org |date=13 March 2024 |access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref> Khattar subsequently won from the seat.<ref name="v829">{{cite news |title=Haryana Lok Sabha Election Results 2024: Full and final list of winners including Manohar Lal Khattar, Selja, Deepender Singh Hooda and more |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/haryana-lok-sabha-election-results-2024-full-and-final-list-of-winners-including-manohar-lal-khattar-selja-deepender-singh-hooda-and-more/articleshow/110760545.cms |work=The Times of India |date=6 June 2024 |access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref>

===Union Minister (2024-)===
In June 2024, Khattar was appointed the [[Ministry of Power (India)|Minister of Power]] and [[Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jai |first=Shreya |date=11 June 2024 |title=Modi 3.0: Two-time CM Manohar Lal Khattar to balance power with housing |url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/former-haryana-cm-manohar-lal-khattar-gets-power-and-urban-affairs-ministry-124061000971_1.html |access-date=16 December 2024 |website=Business Standard}}</ref>

==Major initiatives==

===Police reforms===
Khattar announced that Haryana will have an all-woman police station in each district and around 500 woman constables will be recruited. He also started a 24×7 portal called ''Harsamay'' through which anybody can file a complaint online.<ref>{{cite web | title = Haryana: CM Khattar announces all-woman police stations for all districts |work=[[Hindustan Times]] | url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/haryana-cm-khattar-announces-all-woman-police-stations-for-all-districts/article1-1343039.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150502224233/http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/haryana-cm-khattar-announces-all-woman-police-stations-for-all-districts/article1-1343039.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2 May 2015 |date=2 May 2015 }}</ref>

He has also suggested that Yoga to be a part of police constables' training to help keep the police personnel mentally and physically fit. According to media reports, Khattar has said that Police recruitments would be made on Transparent Recruitment Policy (TRP) and 3,060 new houses would be constructed for police personnel at a cost of Rs 550 crore in next three years.<ref>{{cite news |agency=PTI |title=Haryana govt to implement HRCOCA to check organised crime |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/haryana-govt-to-implement-hrcoca-to-check-organised-crime-115051201366_1.html |access-date=28 May 2022 |work=Business Standard |date=12 May 2015}}</ref>

===E-governance===
Manohar Lal Khattar has introduced e-services through Common Service Centres including biometric attendance system in all the government offices through which attendance of all officers will be available online and monitored.<ref>{{cite web | title = Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar to launch seven e-services on May 2   |work=DNA | url = http://www.iamin.in/en/kurukshetra/news/haryana-cm-manohar-lal-khattar-launch-seven-e-services-may-2-58670 |date=30 April 2015 | url-status = unfit   |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507042749/http://www.iamin.in/en/kurukshetra/news/haryana-cm-manohar-lal-khattar-launch-seven-e-services-may-2-58670 |archive-date=7 May 2015}}</ref>

===Indian reunification===
In July 2022, Manohar Lal Khattar championed the cause of [[Indian reunification]], declaring [[opposition to the partition of India]].<ref name="TIE"/> Khattar likened the present divisions in the Indian subcontinent to those of East and West Germany, which were dissolved with [[German reunification]] in the 1990s.<ref name="TIE">{{cite web |title=India, Pakistan, Bangladesh can reunite, says Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/india-pak-bangladesh-can-reunite-says-manohar-lal-khattar-8051293/ |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en |date=26 July 2022}}</ref>

===Women's empowerment===
Manohar Lal Khattar's Government has been in news for taking steps to implement [[Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana]] scheme that was flagged off by India's Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]. The child gender ratio has been improved in Haryana since he assumed power. It is now 889 girls per 1,000 boys. "Efforts are being made to further take it (child gender ratio) to above 900," Khattar has said in a public statement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=PTI |title='Haryana's child sex ratio improves to 889 girls per 1,000 boys' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/haryana-s-child-sex-ratio-improves-to-889-girls-per-1-000-boys/story-GuQGxhXOeSSBRybJRfzXLP.html |access-date=25 February 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=7 January 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

===Construction of memorial===
Manohar Lal Khattar has publicly declared that his government will build a memorial to mark the sacrifice of Garud Commando Gursewak Singh, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Pathankot.<ref>{{cite news |title=Memorial to be {{sic|bu|ild|nolink=y|reason=expecting 'built'}} for slain Commando Gursewak: Manohar Lal Khattar |last1=PTI |work=[[The Economic Times]] |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/50449803.cms |date=5 January 2016 |access-date=21 March 2017}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
Manohar Lal Khattar is criticised for his remarks on rape and women issues.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yadav |first1=Jyoti |title=Haryana CM Khattar didn't say 'bring girls from Kashmir', but he sure found it funny |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/haryana-cm-khattar-didnt-say-bring-girls-from-kashmir-but-he-sure-found-it-funny/275477/ |access-date=25 February 2021 |work=ThePrint |date=11 August 2019}}</ref> During his election campaign for 2014 polls in India, he said: "If they (women) want freedom, why don't they just roam around naked? Freedom has to be limited."<ref>{{cite news |title=And Now Haryana's New CM Khattar Wants Girls to Dress "Decently" |url=https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/7/1027/And-Now-Haryanas-New-CM-Khattar-Wants-Girls-to-Dress-Decently |access-date=25 February 2021 |work=The Citizen |date=22 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Roychoudhury |first1=Shibaji |title=Manohar Lal Khattar, who blamed women for India's rising rapes, is new Haryana CM |url=https://scroll.in/article/684700/manohar-lal-khattar-who-blamed-women-for-indias-rising-rapes-is-new-haryana-cm |access-date=25 February 2021 |work=Scroll.in |date=22 October 2014}}</ref> Likewise, on 16 November 2018, he has stated, "The biggest concern is that in 80-90% of rapes and eve-teasing cases, the accused and the victim know each other. In many cases, they know each other for a long time, and on one day, when there is an argument,... an FIR is lodged, saying that this person has raped me." This evoked strong condemnation from the opposition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manohar Lal Khattar: Haryana CM Khattar sparks controversy with rape remark |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/haryana-cm-khattar-sparks-controversy-with-remarks-on-rape/articleshow/66675908.cms |access-date=25 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=18 November 2018}}</ref> On 3 April 2023, he again stirred a controversy by making a remark that a "[high court] judge needed to be "fixed". The opposition believes this is interference with the judiciary and have demanded an apology and that a contempt of court notice be issued against him.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manav |first=Sushil |date=3 April 2023 |title=Haryana CM Khattar's remark on HC judge sparks political row. Opposition calls him 'arrogant', demands apology |url=https://theprint.in/politics/haryana-cm-khattars-remark-on-hc-judge-sparks-political-row-opposition-calls-him-arrogant-demands-apology/1492482/ |work=ThePrint |access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Manohar Lal Khattar ministry (2014–)]]
* [[Third Modi ministry]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{Official Website}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|
  before=[[Bhupinder Singh Hooda]]|
  title=[[Chief Minister of Haryana]]|
  years=26 October 2014 – 12 October 2024|
  after= [[Nayab Singh Saini]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Third Modi ministry}}
{{Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministers}}
{{Chief Ministers of Haryana}}
{{Bharatiya Janata Party}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khattar, Manohar Lal}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Bharatiya Janata Party]]
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]
[[Category:Chief ministers of Haryana]]
[[Category:Hindu activists]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:People from Rohtak district]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharaks]]
[[Category:Haryana MLAs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Haryana]]
[[Category:Haryana MLAs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Punjabi Hindus]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]