JOIN US Fatehabad Superintendent of Police (SP) Sangeeta Rani Kalia was shunted out on Saturday, a day after she confronted a Haryana minister who publicly asked her to get out of a meeting.
Sangeeta’s transfer following the face-off with Health Minister Anil Vij, however, invited criticism not only on the social media but also from opposition parties.
The IPS officer was later posted as Commandant 4th IRB, Manesar.
The problem started during the meeting of the district grievance committee when Vij accused the local police of laxity and patronising illegal liquor sale in a fully packed hall.
When the SP objected to the minister, an altercation followed between the two with Vij asking the former to leave the meeting.
When Sangeeta refused, a fuming Vij then walked out of the meeting in a huff.
The minister later brought the incident to the notice of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar following which Sangeeta was transferred, along with two other IPS officers.
It was also learnt that after storming out of the meeting, Vij said he would not attend any meeting that also featured the IPS officer.
Vij, known for his outspoken nature, has courted controversies earlier as well.
The man, who recently started a campaign to make cow the country’s national animal, had declined to attend a college convocation programme earlier this year saying he is against the practice of donning robes at such events.
Cong, INLD criticise Vij
Former Haryana chief minister Bhoopinder Singh Hooda said Vij should have exercised restraint and maintained decorum while talking to the woman officer. Former Union minister Manish Tewari said the minister acted in a “crude manner”.
“You don’t behave with a lady in this manner irrespective of whether she is an officer or not,” he said. Principal opposition party in the state, the Indian National Lok Dal, also criticised the minister.