The outspoken Haryana senior Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday gave a new twist to the intolerance issue in the country, alleging some people are raking it up at Pakistan's behest to thwart India's chances of getting permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
The senior Minister also termed actor Aamir Khan’s remarks on the intolerance issue as “unnecessary and untimely” and urged him to review it.
Amid a debate on intolerance in the country, the Minister said, “In our country, some people are raking up intolerance issue at Pakistan's behest. They are trying to build an atmosphere to thwart our chances of getting permanent membership of the UN Security Council.”
The Health and Sports Minister in the Manohar lal Khattar-led BJP Government in Haryana, while talking to the mediapersons at Ambala alleged that the conspiracy has been hatched in Pakistan so that we do not get the permanent membership.
Vij was responding to questions asked in the context of Aamir Khan's remark that he has been “alarmed” by a number of incidences and that his wife Kiran Rao even suggested that they should probably leave the country.
The Minister also hit out at the “so-called secular forces”, saying they are not able to digest the “able leadership” provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is making a strong pitch for country's permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
Hitting out at those who started the intolerance debate in the country, Vij, a five-time MlA from Ambala Cantt, asked, “Where were these people when the 1984 anti-Sikh riots happened. Why did these people not raise their voice thenIJ”
The Minister, who is active on social networking websites, also posted a series of tweets on the issue.
To another question, Vij criticised Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying that the man who used to curse (RJD chief) lalu Prasad calling him corrupt, was now seen hugging him.
Everyone knows that Kejriwal can quickly change colours as he does not have any ideology, said he.
The Minister also tweeted, “Nayee khabar aayee hein, Ab lalu Kejriwal ka bhai hein (hot news, now lalu (Prasad) is (Arvind) Kejriwal's brother)”.
Vij is well-known for his no-holds barred comments on the Twitter and otherwise, including on his own government and colleagues.
In the last few months, he has even left his own government and Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar embarrassed with his comments.
A veteran and well-known BJP leader who represents the Ambala assembly constituency, Vij was one of the top contenders for the Chief Minister's post in October last year when the BJP came to power on its own in Haryana for the first time.