Chandigarh, July 17 (IANS) Haryana Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij has tweeted his displeasure over Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s announcement of Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra as the state’s brand ambassador for the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (save the girl child and educate her) campaign.
“I do not have any information of anybody appointed brand ambassador of my department for ‘Beti Bachao’ programme – Anil Vij Health Minister,” Vij tweeted on his official handle on Friday.
The Khattar government announced Parineeti as the brand ambassador for the campaign on Thursday evening.
Incidentally, Parineeti was born and brought up in Ambala city, the hometown of Vij.
This is not the first time that Vij has publicly taken on his own government in the state.
The following tweet by the outspoken minister in February this year created quite a buzz in Haryana’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party circles.
“Thank You Chief Minister For Taking Keen Interest into My Departments. I am Relaxed.”
Vij was clearly upset at Chief Minister Khattar showing “interest” in departments handled by him (Vij).
Vij, who emerged as the most popular among all Haryana ministers in a recent survey conducted by a leading vernacular daily – single-handedly scoring as many votes as all other ministers got jointly – has been trying hard to streamline the functioning of the state’s health department.
His surprise checks of government hospitals and clinics in recent months have put the health department on its toes. He has similarly “raided” other offices too.
A veteran and well-known BJP leader who represents the Ambala assembly constituency, Vij was one of the top contenders for the chief minister’s post in October last year when the BJP came to power on its own in Haryana for the first time ever.
When the Khattar government completed 100 days earlier this year, Vij tweeted: “Kuchh log mujhe mere kaam karne ke tareke se rokna chahate hain, parantu veh kabhi kamyaab nahin honge. Main apne tareke se he kaam karta rahoonga.” (Some people are hellbent on stopping me from working my way, but they will not succeed. I will continue to work my way.)
In another tweet later, he said: “There are many obstacles in politics in every step. I have not named anyone (regarding stopping him from doing his work). I had just expressed my resolve to work to mark the 100 days of the (Khattar) government. I will crush all such obstacles and move on.”