Amit Shah, sitting a few seats away, started by listening intently.
Surajkund, Haryana:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah today publicly reprimanded Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij for his lengthy speech at an event organized by the Union Home Ministry. During the eight-and-a-half-minute speech, Mr. Shah interrupted him four times and reminded him that he was allotted only five minutes. Eventually, Mr. Shah cut him short.
The occasion was the inauguration of a workshop organized by the Union Home Ministry at Surajkund, Haryana. Mr. Vij was to deliver the welcome address. The keynote address was to be delivered to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Mr. Shah was the last speaker.
Mr. Vij was expected to express his gratitude to Mr. Shah for attending the event. But he soon strayed from the history of Haryana, its contribution to the Green Revolution, the state’s performance in the Olympics, and the sports infrastructure created by the state government. He also talked about Grievance Redressal Session to be held every week.
Mr. Shah, who was only a few seats away, began to listen intently. Then he sent a note to the minister, apparently asking him to stop. When it didn’t work, he turned on his mic and tapped it, pointing at Mr. Vij.
But the home minister of the state still did not pay heed.
“Anil-ji, you were allotted five minutes. You have already spoken for eight and a half minutes. Please finish your speech. This is not the place to give such a long speech. Keep it short,” Mr. Shah said at the end. .
But Mr. Vij asked for a few more seconds and said that he had one more thing to do.
When Mr. Shah allowed it, he continued the long list of achievements. By now, Mr Shah was clearly distraught. “Anil ji, please excuse me. It won’t work. End it,” he said.
Mr. Vij’s response was to begin his closing remarks.
But Mr. Shah had enough. “Done. The program should go ahead,” he said sternly.
Seeing the extra time taken by Mr. Vij, his boss Mr. Khattar spoke for only three out of the five minutes allotted to him.
As part of the two-day Union Mantralaya programme, chief ministers and home ministers or top police officials of nine states will discuss law and order and national security under the chairmanship of Mr Shah. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address this program tomorrow.