Who won the Anil Vig vs woman police officer spat?

Politicians often get into spats with government officers and often it's the government officers who have to give in to the 'honourable' leaders' whims.

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At a meeting of the Ambala District Grievances and Public Relations Committee, when an angry minister asked the police officer to 'get out' she said she would not.

India Today Web Desk

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 28, 2015 14:38 IST

Politicians often get into spats with government officers and often it's the government officers who have to give in to the 'honourable' leaders' whims. But some officers are made of a different mettle, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij realised the hard way.

At a meeting of the Fatehabad District Grievances and Public Relations Committee, when an angry minister asked the police officer to 'get out' she said she would not. The minister had to leave in a huff. Now he has sworn not to attend any meeting in future if the woman officer is present. He has also complained to the chief minister and the director-general of police about the 'insubordination'. But then, it's Ms Kalia who has emerged a hero.

Someone had raised the issue of illegal sale of alcohol in the villages in the district. The minister asked the police officer to explain. She told them that the police was doing all it could and that a record 2,500 cases were registered under the Excise Act in a month.

The minister was not convinced and became quite agitated. Even as Minister Vij lost his temper, the lady officer maintained her calm demeanour. A visibly exasperated minister ordered her to get out and she answered in a firm 'no'. Ms Sangeeta Kalia stood her ground, or rather stayed put in her seat, and refused to obey the politician's diktat.

As the confrontation boomeranged on him, the minister eased himself out of the room to save any further embarrassment. His followers dutifully followed him but the meeting continued as Sangeeta Kalia and Fatehabad deputy commissioner N.K. Solanki carried on listening to people's grievances, the Tribune reported.