When Harish Khare’s Frank Words Left Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Officials Embarrassed
Gustakhi Maaf Haryana — Pawan Kumar Bansal.
At a Chintan Shivir held in Shimla, an unexpected moment of candour reportedly left the then Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and several senior IAS officers visibly uncomfortable. The moment came when noted journalist and former editor of The Tribune, Harish Khare, delivered a candid assessment of the state government during the gathering.
The episode has been recalled by Haryana-based writer Pawan Kumar Bansal in his commentary titled “Gustakhi Maaf Haryana.” According to Bansal, the event witnessed speaker after speaker praising Khattar for allegedly delivering a corruption-free administration in the state.
Several bureaucrats present at the Shivir reportedly used glowing language to commend the Chief Minister’s governance, with some even claiming that his leadership had ushered in “Ramrajya” in Haryana. The atmosphere, according to observers, appeared filled with uncritical admiration for the government.
However, the tone changed when Harish Khare was invited to speak. Beginning his remarks with a subtle but sharp observation, Khare reportedly said that guests are generally expected to praise the host’s meal regardless of its taste. Instead of following that convention, he offered a candid critique of the functioning of the Haryana government.
His remarks reportedly left the Chief Minister and several officials red-faced, as the atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned tense. When some officials attempted to defend the government, Khare firmly responded, maintaining his critical stance.
The incident also relates to an earlier exchange between Bansal and Khare. Bansal had objected to Khare’s inclusion as a member of a committee constituted to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Haryana, a panel chaired by the Chief Minister. In his view, the editor of a prominent newspaper should maintain distance from government committees to preserve editorial independence.
To address the concern, Khare reportedly wrote about the matter in his column “Coffee Session” published in The Tribune. In the column, he clarified that showing respect to a Chief Minister or Prime Minister by participating in a committee does not imply endorsement of their policies or politics. He also reassured readers that his role in the committee would not affect the impartiality of the newspaper, particularly regarding issues such as disputes between Punjab and Haryana.
Bansal later acknowledged Khare’s response, noting that despite being a prominent editor, Khare had chosen to respond to his criticism in writing. Bansal also expressed that he had wished to attend one of Khare’s Coffee Session discussions to debate issues like corruption and governance in Haryana, though that opportunity never materialized.
The episode remains an example often cited in discussions about journalistic independence and the importance of speaking truth to power.