Ajay Chautala called Haryana CM Saini a ‘dummy’ at the protest site in Chanot

Jannayak Janta Party’s Ajay Chautala addresses villagers in Chanot village of Hansi on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, where residents have been protesting for weeks due to lack of drinking water. Photo credit: Special arrangement

Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) National President Ajay Singh Chautala on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) launched a scathing attack on Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, calling him a “dummy” and alleging that the state government is being run from Delhi by Union Minister Manohar Lal through Chief Secretary Khular Raj.

Mr. Chautala said this while addressing villagers at Chanot village in Hansi, where residents have been protesting for weeks over lack of drinking water.

“This CM is a dummy. He even corrected the ‘T’ junction once on your request. But the real CM (Manohar Lal Khattar) is sitting in Delhi and his government is run by (Rajesh) Khullar,” Mr Chautala said. “This is the Khattar-Khullar government. He (Nayab Saini) is just a token,” he added.

Extending support to villagers’ demand for drinking water, Mr. Chautala said that the people of Chanot had been fighting for long for drinking water connection, but the BJP government remained adamant instead of acceding to their demand. He said a government elected by the people should make laws in the public interest rather than using the absence of a law as an excuse.

“It’s time for change. Change is needed. People will bring change. Change these dummies. I’ve said it several times, those in power will have to be chased and beaten on the road before they leave us alone. And for that we must unite,” Mr Chautala said, adding that the villagers in Chanot remained “certainly united in their enthusiasm” in their agitation.

Due to the acute shortage of drinking water, there have been weeks of protests and indefinite hunger strikes in the village of Chanot. Tensions came to a head in May 2026 when villagers demanded a “T-junction” from the Bhakra pipeline passing through the village for drinking water supply. Protesters installed an unauthorized connection last month, which was dismantled by police and district administration officials late at night. The event led to clashes, lathi charge and use of tear gas.

The state government claimed that the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) pipeline could not supply water to the village without affecting the pressure in Hansi town. It has proposed an 8 km pipeline from Rajli Head under the Jal Jeevan Mission exclusively for Chanot, but villagers have expressed concern over the delay. The issue has since acquired a political dimension, with senior leaders including Congress MP Deepender Hooda and Indian National Lok Dal leader Abhay Chautala visiting the village to extend support to the protesters.

Published – 8 Jul 2026 14:03 IST