CM Sukhu dismisses row over PWD minister’s remark on bureaucrats

Shimla: Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday played down the controversy sparked by public works minister Vikramaditya Singh's remarks questioning the functioning and integrity of IAS and IPS officers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar posted to the Himachal Pradesh cadre. Sukhu said there was no need to overemphasise such statements, asserting that all officers in the hill state were working efficiently in the interest of Himachal Pradesh."There is no such controversy. First and foremost, we have our country. And who will care more for the interests of our region than we do? Whatever state interests are there, all the officers are working very well for the state. There is no such issue," Sukhu said while speaking to mediapersons in Delhi. The chief minister added that his govt has taken strong stands in the interest of Himachal Pradesh on issues that remained unresolved for four decades. Citing examples, he said the state won legal cases such as the Rs 401 crore revenue from Wild Flower Hall property and 18% royalty from JSW power company, underlining that there was no justification for amplifying this issue.Meanwhile, on Friday, education minister Rohit Thakur became the fourth minister in the Sukhu cabinet to distance himself from Vikramaditya's sweeping statement. He cautioned against generalising the role or intentions of officers posted from outside the state. "I believe that officers from outside the state, including IAS, IPS and IFS officers, made significant contributions to Himachal Pradesh. Similarly, our own state officers also carry a moral responsibility in their duties. It would be unfair to generalise about their performance or intentions," the education minister said. He added that a negative approach was not limited to officers from outside the state, as similar perspectives may also exist among officers associated with Himachal Pradesh.At the same time, the education minister described Vikramaditya as an "efficient and capable minister" and said any concerns raised by him should be addressed by the chief minister, as head of the state, to bring clarity.Cabinet Colleagues Object Earlier, revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi, panchayati raj minister Anirudh Singh and technical education minister Rajesh Dharmani had also criticised Vikramaditya's remarks, stating that such issues should be raised in the cabinet or with the chief minister instead of being aired publicly through the media. They said this statement has demoralised officers and harmed the image of the state govt. The IAS and IPS officers' associations also expressed "deep anguish" over the remarks, urging the govt to uphold the dignity and neutrality of the civil services, and not to post any IPS officer with Vikramaditya.PWD Minister Holds Ground Despite sharp criticism, Vikramaditya stood by his statement, stating he would not compromise on the interests of Himachal Pradesh. He claimed that deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri also raised concerns about bureaucratic high-handedness at a Congress rally in Mandi in December, and that he merely echoed those views. Reiterating his respect for officers, the PWD minister said they should serve the people of Himachal Pradesh and not act like rulers. MSID: 126566117 413 |