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Feeling ignored by officials, Haryana Minister Anil Vij threatens hunger strike like Dallewal 

Anil Vij has expressed his frustration over government officials allegedly ignoring his instructions and has warned of launching a hunger strike akin to that of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

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Feeling ignored by officials, Haryana Minister Anil Vij threatens hunger strike like Dallewal 

Senior Haryana BJP minister Anil Vij has expressed his frustration over government officials allegedly ignoring his instructions and has warned of launching a hunger strike akin to that of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Vij, a seven-time MLA from Ambala Cantt, announced that he has decided to discontinue his weekly Janta Darbar in Ambala as officials are not acting on his directives.

“I used to hold a Janta Darbar in Ambala every Monday, but I have now stopped it. The officers are not following my instructions. I have no concern with the rest of the state, but the people of Ambala Cantt have elected me. If their work is not done, I will start an agitation,” Vij said on Thursday. Vij also hinted that he may stop attending meetings of the Public Grievances Committee, citing the non-compliance of his orders.

Vij, known for his outspoken nature, has had frequent run-ins with the Haryana BJP leadership. Recently, he demanded the resignation of state BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli, who has been booked in a gangrape case by the Himachal Pradesh Police. Earlier, he had termed the allegations against Badoli as “very serious” and expressed confidence that the BJP high command would take action.

A BJP veteran, Vij has won four consecutive elections from Ambala Cantt since 2009. When the BJP secured a majority in Haryana in 2014, Vij was seen as a contender for the chief minister’s post. However, the party chose first-time MLA Manohar Lal  for the post of chief minister. Again in 2019, he was again in the race for CM but was overlooked once more, though he was given key portfolios like Home and Health in Manohar’s cabinet.

Vij built a strong public image during his tenure as Home Minister by addressing public grievances swiftly. However, his role was reduced when the BJP replaced Manohar with Nayab Singh Saini in March 2024 after breaking ties with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP). Vij, visibly upset, left the BJP Legislature Party meeting midway when Saini was elected as the new leader and even skipped his swearing-in ceremony. He was not included in Saini’s first cabinet.

Ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections, Vij openly projected himself as the “best CM candidate of the BJP despite the party leader Amit Shah had already announced Nayab Saini as CM Candidate of the BJP. However, after the results, he toned down his stance, saying, “I will perform my duties even if the party appoints me as a chaukidar.”

But, later in the Nayab Saini cabinet he failed to get Home or Finance but was eventually given the Energy, Transport, and Labour ministries, despite initial disappointment, he later stated that he had “no complaints” and would work to bring all three departments to the top. But with his latest remarks and the decision to halt his Janta Darbar, Vij has once again signaled discontent within the Haryana BJP. 

It is learnt that most of the ministers of the Nayab Saini cabinet were not happy with the chief minister’s office holding all powers, especially transfers and they have raised this issue on several occasions,  invoking a response from the chief minister who made it clear that the procedure of transfers will remain online only.