The Fatehabad Superitendent of Police, Sangeeta Kalia, had to face the wrath of the ruling BJP government in the state of Haryana after she got into a verbal spat with Health Minister Anil Vij on 27 November.
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The minister moved out of the meeting after Kalia refused to follow his orders to leave the venue following heated exchanges between them. The minister had used the words “get out”. On the steps taken by the police regarding multiple sale points of liquor in the villages, Ms.Kalia said that as many as 2,500 cases had been registered under the Excise Act in the last 10 months, which was a “record”. Vij got into a verbal spat with Fatehabad superintendent of police (SP) Sangeeta Kalia on Friday after the former asked Kalia to “get out” of a meeting.
The officer, seated next to the infuriated minister, stood her ground over the issue of liquor smuggling and the alleged police role in it.
The officer’s response angered Vij, who immediately left the meeting.
Sources close to the Chief Minister said the officer rather than taking the responsibility, indulged in arguments with the minister.
A video of the entire incident went viral on the internet which showed Vij shouting at Kalia and asking her to “get out”. There is one thing I want to make clear: “My fight against inefficient officers and employees will continue”, the minister added.
The minister also said he has written to the DGP to safeguard the interest of the NGO which had raised the issue of liquor and drug smuggling as they were threatened by the SP. This directly or indirectly encouraged the drug mafias. “The government’s image has taken a hit and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign is bound to suffer”, the letter mentioned, seeking “suitable action against the minister”. The Congress leader demanded Kalia to be brought back to her original position and the Chief Minister to “punish” the minister after going into the matter. She has been posted as Commandant 4th IRB at Manesar relieving Vikas Dhankar of the additional charge.
By mid-day the news had emerged that Kalia was to be removed from her post and her future posting will be announced shortly.
“Also, when my father used to tell me that IPS officers were like demi-gods, my resolve to become one grew stronger”, she told the newspaper.
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It was in 2010 when Dharam Pal took retirement from the Fatehabad police and in the same time his daughter joined the Haryana police as an IPS officer.
