india

Updated: Sep 03, 2016 10:45 IST

Haryana health and sports minister Anil Vij sparked a controversy on Friday when he referred to the media as ‘stinking dogs’ over reports claiming that the delegation led by him forgot to buy tickets for some events at the Rio Olympic games.

“Some stinking dogs are writing again and again that we forgot to buy tickets for Rio which is incorrect. We all had the tickets. We reached Olympic village the same day with players in their buses after the Independence day celebrations at Rio,” he tweeted.

Some stinking Dogs are writing again and again that we forgot to buy tickets for Rio which is incorrect. — ANIL VIJ Minister (@anilvijminister) September 2, 2016

Vij also said that his was not the first delegation from Haryana that travelled during international games. “Everytime delegations have been going. Ours was the smallest (sic),” he tweeted, defending his foreign tour. On being contacted, he told HT that his remark was aimed at those reporting “lies” about his Rio tour. “I never went to any beach or salon,” he said.

His remarks drew sharp criticism from people who slammed his choice of words.

During the monsoon session of the state assembly, Vij’s choice of words had led to a sharp exchange with legislators of the opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Congress. The minister had used a Punjabi idiom that leaders of the opposition parties found offensive. The words were expunged from the proceedings of the House.

Vij had sparked a controversy during Rio Olympics when he led a nine-member delegation to Brazil to cheer their home state athletes. The trip cost approximately Rs 1 crore.

Recently, he announced Rs 50 lakh grant from his discretionary fund to religious sect Dera Sacha Sauda in the state for promoting sports.

Read| Haryana sports minister’s delegation hits the beach, ignores action