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Om Prakash Dhankar | |
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| President ofBharatiya Janata Party, Haryana | |
| In office 19 July 2020 – 28 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Subhash Barala |
| Succeeded by | Nayab Singh Saini |
| Cabinet Minister Government of Haryana | |
| In office 26 October 2014 – 27 October 2019 | |
Ministry | Term |
| Minister of Mines & Geology | 22 July 2016 – 27 October 2019 |
| Minister of Water Resources | 26 October 2014 – 22 July 2016 |
| Minister of Agriculture Minister of Rural Development Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries | 26 October 2014 – 27 October 2019 |
| Member ofHaryana Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2014–2019 | |
| Preceded by | Naresh Kumar |
| Succeeded by | Kuldeep Vats |
| Constituency | Badli |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1961-08-01)1 August 1961 (age 64) |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Children | Aditya, Ashutosh |
| Residence | Jhajjar |
| Alma mater | Maharishi Dayanand University |
| Occupation | Academic,Social Activist,Politician |
| Website | www |
Om Prakash Dhankar also known asO. P. Dhankar (born 1 August 1961), is an Indian politician and social activist, belonging to theBhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and formerly is the President of Bhartiya Janata Party, Haryana.[1] He was aCabinetMinister in the BJP runGovernment of Haryana till 2019.[2]
He is the national coordinator for theNarendra Modi’s dream project-Statue of Unity Iron Collection Corporation Committee. O P Dhankar has been elected twice as BJP Kisan Morcha President (2011-2013), (2013-2015).[3][4][5]
O.P. Dhankhar was born in VillageDhakla, Jhajjar district in 1961 in the family of Vaid Mohabbat Singh and Smt Chhoto Devi. His grandfather Shri Raghuvir Singh worked as a Station Master forIndian Railways. The Philanthropic credentials of his family date back to his great grandfather who mobilized efforts to build the first school in his native village. Dhankhar received his elementary education from the village school before earning his Masters & M. Ed. from theMaharishi Dayanand University,Rohtak.
After his education, he served as a Geography Lecturer atBhiwani for 11 years. As an academic, he published a book on analysis of education sector, with views on education reforms and issues concerning student lives.[6]
He has been associated withRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since 1978 as aSwayamsevak. In his words, he was driven by a mission and zeal to work for social causes and issues affecting youth and thus he worked forAkhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) from 1980 to 1996. He was part of various socio political movements and worked for youth affairs concerning systemic change in education sector. Later, he joinedSwadeshi Jagaran Manch movement. To establish his credentials as a keen observer of life and dynamics of a civilized society, Mr. Dhankar delivered a rendition on Emotions Management.
Given the skewedsex ratio in Haryana and increasing instance of illegal trafficking of Bihari brides by Haryanavi males, O.P. Dhankhar advised a social solution and measured approach to resolve issues by developing bonds between Haryanvi and Bihari families through government intervention.[7][8] This solution also courted controversy and there were opposing voices from Bihar leaders such asLalu Yadav andSharad Yadav. However,Sushil Modi supported O.P. Dhankhar on this issue.
His political association spans over 30 years.[9][10]
He has held key positions such as State General Secretary, State President, National Secretary, and National President in various BJP and its affiliate organizations. After eighteen years of association with RSS, in 1996 he joined BJP and performed duties as a national secretary duringVajpayee era. He was Pradesh Prabhari forHimachal Pradesh and greatly contributed to BJP government formation in the hilly state. he was also actively involved in publication of BJP Haryana official magazineBhajpa Ki BaatArchived 17 November 2021 at theWayback Machine in 2002.[11][12]
He has held variouspadayatras and cycle yatras to agitate and protest against meager compensation and arbitrary land acquisition forSpecial Economic Zone. BJP Kisan Morcha has been demanding for implementation of recommendation of MS Swaminathan Commission, whereby 50% profit on input cost should be given to farmers. BJP had even promised in its election manifesto to implement Swaminathan Commission recommendation.
Om Prakash Dhankhar got elected as National President of BJP’s Kisan Morcha twice in a row. As national president of BJP’s Kisan Morcha, OP Dhankhar worked[13] & raised a range of issues namely Land Acquisition, Pesticide Management,[14] Farmer’s Suicide, Farming Reforms. Swaminathan Report Implementation etc. O.P. Dhankhar played a key role in bringing about a Land Acquisition Handbook which addresses issues of farmers and industry alike by allowing enough opportunity for industrial growth.
O.P. Dhankhar is National Coordinator,Statue of Unity, Iron Collection Corporation Committee.[15]Statue of Unity,[16] Mr Narendra Modi’s dream project is touted to be the largest statue and an architectural marvel in the world. Iron and soil for the 182 metres tall statue of Sardar Patel, which will come up near theSardar Sarovar Dam on theNarmada River, is being collected from farmers from across the country, thus making iron collection drive for theStatue Of Unity a nationwide socio cultural movement. Shri Narendra Modi assigned Mr Dhankhar a key role as the National Co-ordinator, Statue Of Unity, Iron Collection Corporation Committee.[17]
In 2014, he contested from Rohtak Parliamentary constituency against the son of Chief Minister, Haryana,Deepender Singh Hooda. O.P. Dhankhar finished second with 319436 votes (31%) and theIndian National Lok Dal candidate finished a poor third.
During Jhajjar Lok Sabha rally in April, Shri Narendra Modi has reportedly called O.P. Dhankhar as his close confidant and dedicated political leader who has effortlessly worked for last 30 years.
He successfully contested as BJP’s candidate from badli constituency (by garnering 36.48% of total polled votes) in the2014 Haryana Legislative Assembly election. Shri Om Prakash Dhankhar was a front runner[18] claimant for the leadership position in the eventuality of BJP forming a government in Haryana in 2014 Assembly Elections. He led one of the legs of the four Vijay Sankalp Yatras organized by BJP for 2014 Haryana Assembly Elections.[19][20]
TheCabinetMinister Om Prakash Dhankar has independent charge of the following 5 departments,[21][22] which makes him 4th most influential inGovernment of Haryana afterChief Minister of HaryanaManohar Lal Khattar who holds 18 departments,CabinetMinisterCaptain Abhimanyu Singh Sindhu who holds 13 departments andCabinet MinisterRam Bilas Sharma who holds 9 departments.
