Anil Vij vs Sangeeta Kalia: Who was at Fault?

Manoj Tibrewal Aakash
New Delhi/ 27 November 2015. The public spat between Haryana Minister Anil Vij and SP Sangeeta Kalia has raised several questions. After all, why did such dispute arise? Why did both Minister and SP get angry over an issue of public interest? Whose fault was it and how much? Dynamite News has tried to find answers to these questions.

What happened actually?
The ugly confrontation took place during a meeting of the District Grievances and Public Relations Committee at Fatehabad district. Both, Minister Anil Vij and SP Sangeeta Kalia were attending the meeting to hear public grievances. One among the public, Ratia resident Mandeep Singh raised the issue of the sale of illegal liquor in his area. When minister questioned the SP over the matter, the confrontation started. The SP was adamant in her reply that police has been taking action regularly. The minister was not satisfied with her reply and the confrontation took an ugly turn. It reached to an extent that minister ordered SP to get out. Now the debate starts that who was actually at fault? 

Can an officer behave in such a manner with the minister?
In a democracy, a minister is a part of the government. If he or she questions officers on any issue of public intrest then is it justified that the officer answers in such an irresponsible manner. We need to think over it. It was really extreme when the SP disobeyed minister and refused to go out of the room. Even when the minister left his chair to go out, the SP was still sitting on the chair for a while. Is not it an example of indiscipline? 

Minister too would have maintained patience
Even if the minister was not satisfied with the reply of the SP, then too, he would have maintained patience. He could have stopped himself from uttering dictatorial term ‘get out’. He could have waited for an appropriate time for an appropriate action. 

Why people have mindset of accusing politicians only?
Is it not the time that people and media change their mindset? If a common man raises the issue of illegal liquor and minister questions over it then why a public servant feels troubled? Was the reply of Sangeeta Kalia appropriate in the context of public interest? Does our democracy not allow a minister to question an officer on public matters?  

Why bureaucracy remains in an ego?
India is a democratic country. There is a rule of law. Officers are bound to obey the orders given by people’s representatives in public interest. But, mostly opposite happens. This was seen exactly in this matter where an officer was trying to ignore the public issue with her sophism.