Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday submitted his reply to show-cause notice to the BJP high command for allegedly breaching party discipline through his public statements against Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and state party chief Mohan Lal Badoli.

Vij, BJP’s senior most MLA in the state, was earlier issued a show-cause notice by the Haryana unit of BJP for allegedly breaching party discipline through his public statements against CM and state party chief Badoli.  The Minister, who holds the Number two position in the Nayab Singh Saini government, was asked to respond within three days.  A seven-time MLA, he said, “I have sent an eight-page reply to the show-cause notice given to him by the party state president.”

Speaking to Reporters in Ambala, Vij said, “I had gone to Bengaluru for three days. I returned yesterday night (Tuesday) and then went home (Ambala) where I took a bath with cold water and ate chapatis. Then, I wrote my reply.”

Vij further said, “I was asked to give my reply within three days and I have submitted my reply in time. Before I got the hard copy of the notice, it was already in the media.” Vij, however, refused to share the details of his reply. “I have told the party that if it wants to get a reply on any other issue, then I will give them,” he said.

The senior BJP leader also raised questions over the show-cause notice being leaked in the media and said it was a matter of investigation. The notice, issued by Badoli on the directions of the national party president, accuses Vij of making “serious allegations that are against the party’s policy and internal discipline”.

In the show-cause notice, Badoli had said, “You (Vij) are informed that recently you have given statements in public against the Chief Minister and state party president. These are serious allegations and it is against the party’s policies and internal discipline”.

The notice further stated, “Your step was not only against the BJP’s ideology, but was also taken at a time when the party was campaigning for elections in a neighbouring state (Delhi). You knew that such statements made during the elections despite holding a respectable ministerial post would damage the party’s image. Such an act is completely unacceptable.”