CHANDIGARH (TIP): Haryana assembly on March 19 witnessed pandemonium after sports minister Anil Vij said he would consider renaming sports complexes named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, drawing opposition from Congress which asked the BJP to apologize for “insulting” national leaders.

The trouble began during question hour when ruling BJP member Sham Singh Rana asked if there was any proposal under government’s consideration to construct a modern sports stadium in Radaur constituency.

Replying to the question, Vij, who also holds the health portfolio, informed the House that there are three Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Khel Parisars in village Barsan, Nagal and Golani in Radaur constituency.

As he was reading out his reply, Vij said the rural sports complexes named after Rajiv Gandhi will have to be renamed. While former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was not present in the House at that time, other Congress members, including former Speaker Kuldeep Sharma, Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Choudhary, Karan Singh Dalal and others attacked the ruling benches over Vij’s remarks.

As the tempers ran high, Vij shot back at Kuldeep Sharma, who had demanded that the minister take back his “mischievous” and “obnoxious” thinking.

“Government will decide what it has to do. You (Kuldeep) are not in the government. I am talking on behalf of the government. I am a Minister, you are only a MLA… Who you are (who are you), I am very serious in what I have said,” the outspoken Vij shot back.