Top Cop’s Extension Puts CM & HM On Collision Course In Haryana

An unsavoury row has erupted between Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his Home Minister Anil Vij over a year’s extension given to the state Director General of Police (DGP) Major Yadava.

The 1988 batch IPS officer, Yadava was brought on deputation from Intelligence Bureau to his parent cadre, Haryana in February 2019 and he completed his two year stint a few days back. Interestingly, even as the Home Minister recommended a panel of officers to replace Yadava, the Chief Minister instead chose to give a year’s extension to the officer which was promptly cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Vij, known for his activist style of functioning, shot off a letter to the CM late Tuesday night, resending the panel of officers for replacing Yadava. Also, more importantly, he levelled allegations against the top officer claiming he was not ‘fit for the job’ and made adverse comments on his functioning. He also asked the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Rajeev Arora, to seek written explanation from the DGP for “not taking interest in making Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) functional”.

In his letter to the CM, Vij claimed since the DGP could not control his staff, it might affect the law and order situation. He also demanded that the panel be forwarded to the UPSC for the selection of a new DGP. On the issue of the NCB, Vij told Arora to issue directions to Yadava to submit a reply within seven days.

It is not the first time that the CM has been embroiled in a controversy with the Home Minister. The two had a running feud over gaining control of the CID wing of the state police recently. The tiff had in fact reached right up to the top echelons of the party and eventually the matter was settled in favour of the Chief Minister.

Even with regard to some police transfers in the State, two had entered into a war of words on a few occasions. “Vij, who is the senior most party leader, wants undiluted control of his department and when the CM tries to assert his power, the obvious fallout is the verbal spat,” said an officer.

Vij was ignored for the top post when BJP won the elections in 2014 and Khattar was chosen instead. Khattar led the party to another victory in 2019 though with reduced numbers and had to ally with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) to form the government.