Amid a tug-of-war with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar over the charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Haryana, Home Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday again sought disciplinary action against the state chief of the agency.
On Monday, Vij reached New Delhi and went directly to BJP headquarters from Haryana Bhavan at around 11 pm and met party president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Home Minister on Monday ordered a chagesheet “for major penalty” against incumbent CID chief Anil Rao for not being able to gather enough intelligence inputs in the absence of which the social fabric of the state was endangered. In another order, Vij asked Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Vijai Vardan to transfer ADGP Shrikant Jadhav as the new CID chief. Both orders come amid Vij’s ongoing tussle with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar over control of the state CID.
Vij says that as the Home Minister, he has the right to seek intelligence input from the CID. Sources say his reaction over this issue came after CID chief Anil Rao did not report to him even after his CID report was sought repeatedly.
Vij made it clear that he has no dispute with the Chief Minister, but the arbitrariness of government officials will not be tolerated.
Asked what action will be taken if the CID chief is not removed, Vij told reporters, “I have given orders for action on my behalf, see what happens next.”
Talking to reporters, Vij said, “As a Home Minister, I repeatedly sought the intelligence input of the state from the CID chief, but it was not made available to me. This can cause great harm to the peace of the state at any time. I will not have input then how do I take steps and take action. When they (officials) do not agree, then it is our right to take action against a government official.”
He reiterated: “There is no dispute over this issue with the Chief Minister. He is the supreme of the government. I have no dispute over CID or any department with him. CM can take a minister's department and give it to anyone whenever he wants. But, as long as I am the Home Minister, I will have CID reporting because I have to prepare myself.
I have to be prepared if any accident or incident happens in the state.”
This was not the first time when Vij had shown his displeasure over the working of the state intelligence department. Earlier too he had raised serious questions over its functioning. Recently, he had announced to set up a three-member panel headed by state Home Secretary Vijai Vardhan to suggest ways to improve the working of the department. The minister had also expressed his dismay when he was not kept in the loop while the chief minister's flying squad undertook surprise checks at offices of the Regional Transport Authority offices. The rising tensions between the minister and the state CID chief had triggered a tug-of-war between Vij and the chief minister over the control of the department.
The home portfolio, along with ministries like health and urban local bodies, was allotted to six time MLA Vij after BJP-JJP alliance came to power in the state last year.