BJP high command to step in to settle Khattar-vij tussle
The home department without CID is like a man without eyes and ears. I am in touch with the party high command about the recent development.
ANIL VIJ , Haryana home minister
CHANDIGARH : The BJP high command is likely to step in to resolve the ongoing tussle over between Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and home minister Anil Vij over the control of the crimimal investigation department (CID).
“Unless the two senior leaders sit across the table and hammer out the issue, unpleasantness would continue to plague the government,’’ said a party functionary.
Vij on Wednesday told HT that he was in constant touch with the party high command about the recent development. “I would abide by the instructions of the party high command even if that means continuing as minister of a “langda” (lame) home department without CID,” he said.
The CID, the intelligence wing of the state police, as per the Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974, was incorporated as a part of the home department. Since it’s not a standalone department it reports to the minister in-charge.
Also, the functions of security, intelligence, including espionage and counter-espionage which the state CID also performs, are also under the control of the home department. The rules only specify home, jails and administration of justice as three separate departments.
A controversy erupted last week when the official websites of the state government showed Khattar as the minister in-charge of the CID. Vij reacted sharply to this saying a mere mention on a site cannot divest him of the CID charge as a process has to be followed for reallocating any department to a minister.
Upping the ante in the ongoing controversy Vij on Wednesday said that the home department without CID was nothing. “The home department without CID is like a man without eyes and ears,’’ he said.
Vij, who was already at loggerheads with the CID chief Anil Rao for delay in providing some information, had reacted sharply when the charge of intelligence arm was shown with chief minister on two government websites.
“Governments are not run by portals but rule of law,’’ he had said questioning the move.
For divesting CID from the home department, the council of ministers will have to amend the Business of the Haryana Government (Allocation) Rules, 1974, and define CID as a standalone department. As per the allocation rules, the governor on the advice of the CM, can allot among the ministers the business of the government by assigning one or more departments to a minister. Also, the CM can get one department assigned to the charge of more than one minister.
The differences between Khattar and Vij are not new. During BJP’S first term, Vij did not miss an opportunity to take digs Khattar. His tweet ‘Thank you chief minister for taking keen interest in my departments; I am relaxed’ had triggered a row. Vij was upset at being overlooked by his own department officials who invited the CM for an function at Rai Sports School but ignored him.