'If They Need An Answer...': Haryana Minister Anil Vij's 8-Page Response To BJP's Show Cause Notice

The notice was issued to Anil Vij on Monday for his remarks targeting Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and state unit chief Mohan Lal Badoli.

Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said he has submitted his reply to the show cause notice issued to him by the BJP state president for alleged breach of party discipline.

The notice was issued to the senior most BJP MLA on Monday for his remarks targeting Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and state unit chief Mohan Lal Badoli. The notice had sought a written reply from the minister within three days.

In his response, Vij, the energy and transport minister, submitted 8-page reply to the notice on Tuesday night. 

"Before the deadline, I have submitted my reply. In my reply, I mentioned that if they (party) needs an answer to anything else, I will give that too," he said. 

When asked if he can share with the media what he has submitted in his reply, Vij quipped, "It (the reply) has been sent in a sealed envelope and cannot be disclosed in public."

The Haryana BJP leader also said he was in Bengaluru for three days and returned on Tuesday evening.

"I had gone to Bengaluru for three days. I returned yesterday night (Tuesday) and then went home (Ambala) where I took a bath with cold water and ate chapatis. Then, I wrote my reply," he said.

While referring to the show cause notice, the MLA said, "How that came in the media, this needs to be probed. How a secret communication got leaked before the media, if party wants they should get it probed." 

The seven-time MLA said that even before he received a copy of the notice, he came to know about it through the media.

In the notice issued to Vij on Monday, Badoli said, "It is informed that you have recently made public statements against the party (state) president (Badoli) and the chief minister's post." 

These are serious allegations and are against the party's policy and internal discipline. We expect you to give a written explanation on this subject within three days, it mentioned. The Ambala Cantonment MLA had recently taken a swipe at Saini.  

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, however, sought to play down the issue, saying that Vij being a senior, had the right to say what he feels.

Last week, Vij shared some pictures, claiming that workers seen with a friend of Saini were also seen with an Independent candidate whom he defeated in the state assembly polls in 2024.

Vij had won the October Assembly polls from his Ambala Cantt constituency and became MLA for the seventh time after defeating independent candidate Chitra Sarwara. 

On January 31, Vij said it had been more than 100 days since he publicly raised the issue of those, including officials, who played a role in trying to defeat him in the polls but no action was taken against them.

Vij had taken a dig at Saini, saying, "Since assuming office, he (Saini) has been on an 'udan khatola' (chopper). If he comes down, he will see the suffering of the people."

Earlier, Vij had also said that Badoli should resign as the state BJP chief after being booked in an alleged rape case to maintain the sanctity of the party till he was found to be innocent in the Himachal Pradesh police investigation.