Ministers Lashes Out at Bureaucrats Over Fund Allocation in Himachal
A sharp exchange has erupted in Himachal Pradesh’s political circles after PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh openly criticized non-Himachali bureaucrats, particularly those from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, accusing them of showing little concern for the state’s interests. In a late-night Facebook post, Singh warned officials not to overstep their mandate and urged them to focus on serving the people.
Though he did not name specific officers, Singh made it clear he was unhappy with what he described as “unfair and arbitrary” allocation of funds. “Whatever funds we get from the Centre belong to the people of the state. These officers have no right to allocate these funds arbitrarily. We are elected representatives, and we will not allow anyone to compromise the interests of Himachal,” he said.
This isn’t the first time bureaucrats have faced public criticism from the state’s leadership. At a recent Congress event in Mandi, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri accused some officials of being too close to the BJP and urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to take strict action.
The ministers’ strong words are expected to stir unease among senior IAS and IPS officers, highlighting the growing tension between elected representatives and the bureaucracy over control of resources and decision-making in the state.
