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Manohar Lal Khattar Age, Caste, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

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Age: 70 Years
Hometown: Rohtak, Haryana
Religion: Hinduism

Manohar Lal Khattar

Bio/Wiki
Nickname(s)Bhappaji, Manu
ProfessionPolitician
Famous forServing two consecutive terms as the 10th Chief Minister of Haryana
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)in centimeters- 168 cm
in meters- 1.68 m
in feet & inches- 5’ 6”
Eye ColourDark Brown
Hair ColourGrey
Politics
Political PartyBharatiya Janata Party (1994-present)
Logo of Bharatiya Janata Party
Political Journey• Haryana’s Sangathan Mahamantri (1994)

• Organizational General Secretary of the BJP Haryana (2000-2014)

• Elected as the Chairman of the BJP's Haryana Election campaign for the general elections (2014)

• Became a member of the BJP's National Executive Committee (2014)

• Contested and won the Haryana state assembly elections from the Karnal constituency (2014)

• Appointed 10th Chief Minister of Haryana (26 October 2014)
Khattar taking oath as the Chief Minister of Haryana for the first time
• Contested and won the Haryana state assembly elections from the Karnal constituency (2019)

• Appointed Chief Minister of Haryana for the second time (27 October 2019)
Khattar's photo taken while he was being administered the oath for CM the second time
• Stepped down from the post of CM (12 March 2024)

• Resigned as an MLA (13 March 2024)
Personal Life
Date of Birth5 May 1954 (Wednesday)
Age (as of 2024)70 Years
BirthplaceNindana village, Rohtak district, Punjab (now in Haryana), India
Zodiac signTaurus
SignatureManohar Lal Khattar's signature
NationalityIndian
HometownRohtak, Haryana
SchoolPandit Neki Ram Sharma Government College, Rohtak (till 10th class)
College/UniversitySchool of Open Learning (SOL), Delhi University
Educational QualificationBA in Economics and Political Science
ReligionHinduism
CasteKhatri
AddressHouse number - 719, New Prem Nagar, Karnal, Haryana, India
ControversiesRemarks on Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge
In 2023, Khattar received a lot of criticism for calling a Punjab and Haryana High Court judge mentally unstable during a public meeting. He gave the statement while discussing the court's judgement of stopping the recruitment of constables for around 2000 vacancies as a result of reported corruption in the recruitment process. Khattar said,

"Woh (samasya) hal ho jaayegi. Woh ek judge hai, uske maathe mein kuchh gadbad hai. Toh theek karenge usko (That issue will be resolved. There is a judge. There’s some issue with him. We will fix that)."

Khattar was not only criticised by the netizens but also by many mainstream politicians. He later issued a statement, seeking an apology for his statement. [1]The Indian Express

Losing Temper While Addressing A Public Meet
In the same year, two videos of him from a public meeting, also known as Jan Darbar, were widely circulated on the internet. In one video, Khattar was seen asking the public to "throw" a person out of the meeting for seeking redressal of his grievances. He also called the person an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporter. In another video, Khattar asked an elderly woman to "keep quite and sit down." [2]Jansatta

Controversial Statement While Talking To A Woman
He attracted criticism in September 2023 after he was seen telling a woman that he would ask Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to send her to the moon on the next Chandrayan Mission. Reportedly, the woman had approached the CM seeking his assistance in establishing industries near her area of residence to create more jobs. Khattar later defended himself and said that he made the remark "jokingly" and was not serious about it. [3]ABP News He, in an interview, said,

"I did not say that thing due to any malicious intent. I respect my sisters and daughters. I said this jokingly considering her as my younger sister."

Asking Party Members To Resort To Violence And Go To Jail
Khattar made headlines in 2021 after he, during an event, asked the workers of the BJP to resort to beat the protestors protesting against the farm laws of the Union government with a Lathi. He also adviced them to raise an army and be willing to go to the jail. Khattar said,

"If you stay inside [in jail] for a few months, you will learn more than what you learn at these meetings. You will emerge as a big leader. Your name will go down in history."

After the statement, many political factions, including the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, began demanding his resignation. [4]The Times of India

Losing Cool During An Event
In 2019, a video of Khattar went viral in which he told a supporter that he would chop his head off with the axe that he was standing with. The incident occurred during an event in which the support was seen trying to put a crown on Khattar's head despite his disapproval. Later, when asked about his statement, Khattar defended his actions and said,

"If someone, especially my party worker, tries to place a silver crown on my head, I will get angry and will not tolerate it. We have ended this culture after coming to power." [5]The Hindu

Remarks on Kashmiri Women
In 2019, after the Government of India scrapped Articles 370 and 35A, giving a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Khattar, in an event, said that Kashmiri girls can be brought to Haryana to marry boys here. His question was in response to the unbalanced sex ratio in Haryana. [6]NDTV

Seeking Support From Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa
He hit the headlines in 2019 after he stated that the BJP government will seek support from Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa to win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Gurmeet was jailed in 2017 on the charges of sexual assault and murder. After receiving criticism, he clarified that it was the right of the party to seek assistance from an organisation. [7]The Times of India

Controversial Sexual Abuse Remark
Khattar hit the headlines in 2018 after he, during an event, said that a majority of the sexual abuse cases filed by the girls were false and was filed against their "male friend" after they broke up. He said,

"Around 80-90 per cent of the rape and molestation cases happen between people who are familiar with each other. They roam around together for days, and when they finally squabble one day, the woman files an FIR saying that she has been raped."

Khattar later clarified that his comment was taken out of context and claimed that whatever he said was factually correct and opposition parties were politicizing it. In 2014, he gave a similar remark against sexual abuse and said that the reason why it happens in the society is because of the way in which girls dress up. [8]NDTV

Remarks on Eating Beef
In 2015, he faced criticism after his remarks on the beef issue which read: "Muslims can live in India, but they must stop eating beef." Following this statement, the BJP stepped in and stated that it had nothing to do with the party and that those were his personal views. Within 24 hours of the statement, he issued a clarification and said, "My statement was twisted, but if that still hurt the sentiments of people, I apologize for that." [9]Hindustan Times He made a controversial remark on beef in 2016 when he claimed that many luxury hotels were providing beef to foreigners living their. [10]India Today
Relationships & More
Marital StatusUnmarried
Family
Wife/SpouseN/A
ChildrenNone
ParentsFather- Harbans Lal Khattar (farmer)
Mother- Shanti Devi (homemaker)
SiblingsBrother(s)- 4
• Gulshan Khattar (died in 2021)
A photo of Gulshan Khattar
• Jagdish Khattar

• Charanjit Khattar
Sister- 1
Favourites
PoliticianNarendra Modi
FoodKhichdi, Upma, Uthappam
Money Factor
Assets/PropertiesMovable Assets
• Cash Rs. 15,000
• Bank Deposits Rs. 93,85,985

Immovable Assets
• Agricultural Land Rs. 30,00,000
• Residential Buildings Rs. 3,00,000

Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2019. [11]MyNeta
Net Worth (approx.)Rs. 1,27,00,985

Note: The net worth was for the year 2019. [12]MyNeta

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar being critisized for not maintaining law & order in the state

Some Lesser Known Facts About Manohar Lal Khattar

  • He belongs to a family that hailed from the Jhang district of Pakistan and moved to Haryana following the partition in 1947.
  • He spent his childhood in Nindana village in Haryana.
  • After that, Khattar’s entire family moved to Banyani village. The family decided to move to a new village as it purchased land there.
  • Khattar reportedly loaned some money to study at the Pandit Neki Ram Sharma Government College in Rohtak. There, he completed his matriculation. He became the first person from his family to pass the 10th class.
  • In school, he used to participate in various extracurricular activities, including debates and discussions. He also learnt the Tamil language while studying.
  • According to his family, Khattar used to pluck vegetables from his farmland, load them on his bicycle, and take them to a vegetable market. He used to follow this routine every day before going to school.
  • Khattar wanted to become a doctor. For this, he decided to enrol in a medical college in Haryana.
  • His father, Harbans, was against Monahar’s decision to study more as he wanted him to take up farming.
  • He, however, shunted the idea of pursuing graduation in medicine after he realised that running a business would earn him more money than a career as a doctor would as he’d have to spend a lot of time studying.
  • To pursue graduation, Khattar relocated to Delhi, where he, alongside his studies, started a clothing shop near Sadar Bazar.
  • After the shop began generating profits, he asked his family to leave Haryana and shift with him to Delhi.
  • Several sources claim that Khattar completed his graduation in 1972, while Kattar claimed in his electoral affidavit that he completed his graduation in 1975. [13]The Economic Times [14]Manohar Lal Khattar – Affidavit
  • Manohar became a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1977. It was at a time when the Indira Gandhi-led Union government had put an emergency in place.
  • Khattar decided to enrol in the RSS after he saw the members taking a stand against the imposition of emergency and getting imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
  • In 1979, he decided to become a pracharak in the RSS after he went for Triveni Darshan.
  • After serving in the organisation for three years, Khattar was appointed as a permanent member, known as a pracharak. He went on to hold many important designations in the organisation.
  • As per sources, Khattar decided to remain a bachelor after he became a full-time member of the RSS. His parents were however against his decision.
  • While giving an interview, a cousin of Khattar claimed that his mother asked Khattar to start a family even after he took the oath to dedicate his life to social causes. To her requests, Manohar used to say that if she could ask one of his brothers to dedicate his life to social causes, he would immediately break his oath and return.
  • He has been credited with leading mass movements against the Indian government over various issues.
  • Khattar has also led numerous humanitarian efforts to provide aid and assistance to the flood victims in Dwarka, Delhi, and earthquake victims in the Uri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • He has played a vital role in improving the coordination between the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in conducting joint events.

    Manohar Lal Khattar's picture taken in RSS uniform

    Manohar Lal Khattar’s picture taken in RSS uniform

  • As Haryana’s Sangathan Mahamantri, Khattar was handed the responsibility of making strategies for improving the functioning of the party in Punjab and Haryana. He also oversaw the formulation of electoral policies for the BJP.
  • Khattar came into contact with Narendra Modi after the latter was appointed as the electoral in charge of the BJP in Haryana in 1996.

    A photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Manohar Lal Khattar

    A photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Manohar Lal Khattar

  • Khattar is credited with making an alliance with the Haryana Vikas Party and supporting Bansi Lal’s candidature as the Chief Minister of the state in the same year.
  • He later advised the party leadership to revoke their support to Lal’s government as it was disadvantageous for the party’s image.
  • In the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, Khattar is said to have played a vital role in helping the BJP win all 10 seats in Haryana. He did so by allying with Om Prakash Chautala.
  • Manohar Khattar played an important role in drafting strategies for the party during the 2002 elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Following his plan, the party managed to improve its image and secured 11 seats.
  • In the same year, on Narendra Modi’s insistence, Khattar was sent to Bhuj, Gujarat, from where Modi was contesting the Legislative Assembly elections. It is said that Khattar played a vital role in Modi’s victory from Bhuj, which was a stronghold of the INC.
  • Later, Khattar was made election in-charge of the BJP over 12 states.
  • He is credited with devising policies that led to the BJP winning a majority of seats in the 2014 general elections.
  • He was among the few BJP members who led the BJP’s Antyodaya Yojana.
  • Under his leadership, the BJP in Haryana started a magazine titled Bhajapa Ki Baat in 2000.

    Cover page of the magazine Bhajapa Ki Baat

    Cover page of the magazine Bhajapa Ki Baat

  • Khattar’s first electoral participation was in the 2014 Haryana state elections in which he got a total of 82,485 votes and won against his nearest rival, Jai Prakash Karnal, who contested the elections independently.
  • Manohar became Haryana’s 10th Chief Minister on 26 October 2014. He became the first CM to not belong to the Jat community.
  • After having been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Haryana in October 2014, he became the first one from BJP to hold the position.

    A photo of Manohar Lal Khattar taken while he was giving a speech in the Vidhan Sabha

    A photo of Manohar Lal Khattar taken while he was giving a speech in the Vidhan Sabha

  • He kept the Home, General Administration, Personnel & Training, Power, Town & Country Planning and Urban Estates, Administration of Justice, Electronics & Information Technology, Raj Bhawan Affairs, and Renewable Energy departments with him during his first tenure as a CM from 2014 to 2019.

    A photo of Khattar taken while he was chairing a meeting with cabinet ministers in Chandigarh

    A photo of Khattar taken while he was chairing a meeting with cabinet ministers in Chandigarh

  • In 2016, after Garud Commando Gursewak Singh was killed in action during the Pathankot Airbase attack, the Khattar government announced erecting a memorial in his honour in Singh’s hometown.
  • In 2018, he was criticised for how the state government handled the farmers protesting against the farm laws of the Indian government. His statement “They don’t have any issues, they are just focusing on unnecessary things, not selling produce will bring losses to farmers” also received a lot of backlash. [15]The Times of India
  • He won over an Indian National Congress (INC) candidate named Trilochan Singh, in the 2019 Vidhan Sabha elections after getting 79,906 votes.

    A photo of Manohar Lal Khattar taken with Manoj Tiwari during an election rally

    A photo of Manohar Lal Khattar taken with Manoj Tiwari during an election rally

  • In his second tenure as the CM, Khattar kept Finance, Town & Country Planning and Urban Estates, Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Water Resources, Information Technology, Electronics and Communication, Information, Public Relations & Languages, Planning, Administration of Justice, Environment & Climate Change, Architecture, General Administration, Criminal Investigation (CID), Personnel & Training, and Raj Bhawan Affairs departments with him.

    A photo of Manohar Lal Khattar taken while he was addressing the media during a press conference

    A photo of Manohar Lal Khattar taken while he was addressing the media during a press conference

  • He has brought many reforms to the state by implementing digital services such as e-services through Common Service Centres (CSCs), an E-stamping System in Property Registration, Aadhaar enrolment of children along with Registration of Birth, Aadhar-enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), and Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan Patra).
  • To improve the safety of women in Haryana, Khattar, during a public meeting in 2015, revealed the government’s plan to create all-women-operated police stations in different parts of the state.
  • He later announced that the Haryana police would induct 500 women constables and establish Harsamay, an internet portal, where women can lodge FIRs online.

    Logo of Haryana Police's Harsamay website

    Logo of Haryana Police’s Harsamay website

  • As CM, Khattar urged the cops to maintain their physical fitness and proposed the inclusion of yoga in their training regime.
  • Thereafter, the Khattar-led state government implemented a Transparent Recruitment Policy (TRP) to reduce the instances of high-ranking officials indulging in malpractices while recruiting constables.
  • Khattar is credited with devising policies that improved the girl-to-boy ratio in the state. By 2021, there were 889 girls per 1,000 boys in the state.
  • Under his leadership, the supply of electricity in the rural areas of Haryana improved drastically. As per sources, the Haryana government was supplying electricity 24×7 in around 5,791 villages, making up 86 per cent of the total villages in the state.
  • The government also implemented “Mission Merit” under which around 1.10 lakh vacancies in the public sector were filled.
  • The net profit earned by the state by exporting goods and services under his chief ministership increased from Rs. 68,032 crore in 2014 to Rs. 2,45,453 crore in 2022.
  • In 2022, in an interview, Khattar expressed his disagreement over the 1947 partition of India. He went on to say that India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh should re-unite. He talked about it and said,

    Partition should not have happened… Lekin Congress ke kuch logon ko satta lene ki shayad jaldi thi… agar thoda sa chhod dete satta ko, toh aisa ho sakta hai ki 5, 10, 20 saal baad… Partition nahi hua hota. ast Germany aur West Germany ikathe ho sakte hain… toh Bharat, Pakistan, Bangladesh nahi ikathe ho sakte.”

  • Neither does Khattar smoke tobacco nor does he consume alcohol. He has initiated many anti-tobacco campaigns during his tenure as the CM.
  • Khattar received his graduation degree from Delhi University’s School of Open Learning in 2023 despite completing his graduation more than 40 years ago.

    A photo of Manohar Lal Khattar taken while he was receiving his graduation degree

    A photo of Manohar Lal Khattar taken while he was receiving his graduation degree

  • In February 2023, fake news of Khattar passing away with a fake death certificate was circulated on the internet.

    A photo of the fake death certificate circulated on social media

    A photo of the fake death certificate circulated on social media

  • In January 2024, Khattar donated his ancestral home in Baniyani village, Rohtak, to the district authorities. According to him, the authorities would convert the house into a library which would give free and easy access to books and other reading materials to the villagers. Khattar talked about it, in an interview, and said,

    I spent my childhood in this village. Today, I have given my house to the village to set up an e-library in the building.”

  • He also expressed his desire to donate all his belongings to the Pradhan Mantri Rahat Kosh after his death.
  • On 12 March 2024, Manohar stepped down from his position as the Chief Minister of Haryana due to disagreements between the BJP and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections; Nayab Singh Saini later succeeded him. [16]News 18
  • In March 2024, many netizens shared a video of Khattar in which he was seen crying. According to them, this video was taken after Khattar resigned from his post. However, later, many fact-checkers revealed that the video was more than 3 years old and was unrelated.

    A photo of the fact check on the video done by India TV

    A photo of the fact check on the video done by India TV

  • In the same year, a video of him with the controversial YouTuber Elvish Yadav went viral on the internet in which they were seen sharing a stage. This led to speculations that Manohar Lal Khattar supports Elvish; however, Khattar later denied the speculations and said that they shared the same stage for an event only.

    Manohar Lal Khattar with Elvish Yadav while sharing a stage

    Manohar Lal Khattar with Elvish Yadav while sharing a stage