Under attack by the Opposition and in the social media for exhibiting autocratic attitude towards a woman IPS officer, Haryana’s firebrand leader and Health Minister Anil Vij on Monday trained his gun at the liquor mafia.
As the House witnessed uproar, Vij defended his conduct by claiming that truncated video clip was shown on the media at the liquor mafia’s behest for projecting him in bad light.
Relying on the age-old adage that “not everything you see is true”, Vij also tried to explain the “get out” command by claiming he was only trying to send her out for hearing the aggrieved party in her absence. Vij tried to present the clipping of the recording before the House.
Vij said the officer tried to snub the complainant in his presence and it was completely against the decorum, when he was chairing the meeting. He reiterated that after the meeting, he was not concerned about the remarks against him on social media, but he was concerned about the security of those who are waging a war against the drug and liquor mafia.
Vij said he has written to the DGP about the security of the NGO concerned, who had raised the issue of sale of illegal liquor before him.
Clearing his position on shouting at an officer of backward class, he said that while he was conducting the meeting with the public, he was sitting with an IPS officer, who is supposed to take care of the grievances of the public and not to suppress their voice. He reiterated that the way the officer shouted at the aggrieved party, a case could have been registered against her.
Though Congress MlA Geeta Bhukkal raised the issue, the opposition seemed divided as the leader of opposition Abhey Singh Chautala said that the House should debate on the paddy purchase scam.
Intervening in the matter, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar appreciated the conduct of Vij saying it was gracious of Vij to leave the place. He said that as the Chairperson of the committee, it was expected of the officer to maintain the decorum of the chair.
He made it clear that the woman IPS officer has been transferred as a routine matter and she has not been punished.