Addressing a press conference after presiding over the first meeting of his cabinet, the chief minister also warned criminals in the state to mend their ways.

“I warn those involved in criminal activities that they should either leave the state or mend their ways, otherwise we will mend them,” he said.

On the BJP returning to power in Haryana for a third time, Saini said the people of the state defeated the Congress’ narrative of lies in the elections and gave a big mandate to the BJP. “I express my deep gratitude to the people of Haryana that they put their stamp of approval on the policies of the prime minister,” he said.

Haryana, he said, will play a big role in realising the aim of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. “Our government is committed to empowering the poor, youths, farmers and women,” he said.

After the cabinet meeting, Saini accompanied his ministers to their newly allotted rooms in the Haryana civil secretariat as they assumed charge. Saini said the portfolios will soon be allotted to all the ministers.

The CM first accompanied Anil Vij, a seven time MLA, to his office. Interacting with the media, Vij said, “The present government will not only run non-stop like the previous two terms but will do so at the “speed of a metro”. Whatever responsibility was given to me in the past, I fulfilled it with full devotion and shall continue to do so in the future as well. The results of exams for about 25,000 jobs has come out and is being discussed not only in Haryana but in the entire country. People are saying that youths of their village have got jobs without any recommendation or bribe”.

Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said, “Government has given a Diwali gift by giving jobs to about 25,000 youth”. Rao Narbir Singh said, “Promises made to the people of Haryana in BJP’s Sankalp Patra will be fulfilled on priority. At the same time, the problem of waterlogging in Gurugram, which is known as the economic capital of the state, will also be solved soon”.

Mahipal Dhanda said, “Goal of our government is to make the life of the needy, poor, youth and farmers easier. Farmers’ crops are being purchased on MSP and it has provided great relief to them”. Vipul Goel said that his priority will be to implement BJP’s Sankalp Patra. “I will work to make Faridabad a developed city. Along with this, completing the ongoing development works shall be my top priority,” he added.

Dr Arvind Kumar Sharma, Shyam Singh Rana, Ranbir Gangwa, Shruti Choudhry, Arti Singh Rao were the other Cabinet ministers who took charge of their their respective offices. Ministers of State (Independent Charge) Gaurav Gautam and Rajesh Nagar also assumed their respective offices.

Paddy procurement: Rs 3,056 cr transferred into the accounts of farmers

During the cabinet meeting, Saini said, the ongoing paddy procurement in the state was also reviewed. “There was a detailed discussion on procurement. The BJP government is committed to procuring every single grain of our farmers at MSP,” he said. No value cut will be imposed for up to 17 per cent moisture content in paddy, he said. In the current season, more than 27.45 lakh metric tonnes of paddy arrived in mandis and more than 23 LMT had been procured at the minimum support price (MSP) till Thursday, the chief minister said.

For the paddy procured, Rs 3,056 crore has been credited into farmers’ accounts, he said.

More than 3.44 LMT of bajra arrived in mandis so far this season. Of this, over 2.70 LMT has been procured and Rs 331 crore has been credited into farmers’ accounts, he added.