The outspoken Haryana Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij on Monday created quite a buzz with his latest tweet on National Anthem.
Questioning a word in India's National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’, Vij tweeted, “Rashtriya gaan Jana Gana Mana ka hum poora samman karte hain parantu isme kis adhinayak ki aradhana ki jaati hai veh mujhe aajtak samajh nahin aaya (We fully respect the national anthem but in this which ruler (Adhinayak) is worshipped, I have not been able to understand till today).”
The tweet from Vij came two days after he unfurled the National Flag as a Cabinet Minister on the occasion of 69th Independence Day’s celebrations in Yamunanagar town. The Minister is well-known for his no-holds-barred comments on Twitter and otherwise.
Vij took the Twitter route several times to express his displeasure on various issues related to his own government and party. In the last few months, ever since the BJP came to power in Haryana in October 2014, Vij has even left his own Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar embarrassed with his comments.
The Cabinet Minister had earlier courted controversy after questioning the State Government’s move to rope in actor Parineeti Chopra for ‘BBBP’ initiative. He gad tweeted, “I do not have any information that anybody has been appointed brand ambassador of my department for Beti Bachao programme.”
This was not the first time that Vij had publicly taken on his own BJP Government in the state. The Health Minister who continues to remain in the limelight due to his tweets and working style, had in February posted a tweet hinting at his displeasure over Chief Minister showing "interest" in his departments. "Thank You Chief Minister For Taking Keen Interest into My Departments. I am Relaxed," he had tweeted.
The five-time member of legislative assembly had in a tweet also insinuated that efforts were on to make him change his style of functioning. On completion of the 100 days of BJP government in Haryana, he had tweeted, “Some people want to stop me from working in my own way, but they will never succeed. I will continue to work in my own style.”
Vij, a veteran and well-known BJP leader who represents the Ambala assembly seat, was one of the top contenders for the Chief Minister's post.
However, the BJP chose Khattar, a first-time legislator and former Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) ideologue.
In the past few months, the Minister's surprise raids at government hospitals and clinics in recent months have put the Health Department on its toes. He has raided other offices, including police stations too.