Officers creating rift with Haryana CM: Anil Vij

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 28

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has stirred a hornet’s nest by alleging that departmental work had been adversely hit as officers were trying to create a rift between him and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar even as he warned them of stern action.

In a statement today, Vij said, “Some officers are obstructing my departmental works to ‘please’ the CM. If they think that I and the CM are against each other, they are mistaken. We both are good friends. Officers playing this dirty game will have to pay a heavy price.”

The development comes in the wake of some of Vij’s decisions being overruled by the Chief Minister’s Office.

Sources said Vij was unhappy with the working of certain bureaucrats in his departments as they allegedly were bypassing him and briefing the CM directly on key issues.

Some of Vij’s proposals, including honouring Covid warriors, had either been stalled or inordinately delayed at various levels in the government, sources close to him said. The minister was earlier locked in a tussle with the CM over extension to DGP Manoj Yadava. Khattar had the last word on the issue and Yadava continued to head the police force till he expressed his willingness to return to the IB earlier this month.

In his capacity as Health Minister, Vij had suspended the Panchkula Civil Surgeon, an order that was overruled by the CM.