Himachal Reels Under Tragedy While PWD Minister Enjoys Foreign Tour Funded by Smart City Project: BJP Spokesperson Ajay Rana. 

Shimla:

As Himachal Pradesh battles the aftermath of continuous rainfall and natural calamities for over 21 days, the absence of key government figures has drawn sharp criticism. Senior BJP leader and spokesperson Ajay Rana has strongly condemned the foreign tour undertaken by Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh and his associates, accusing them of prioritizing luxury over public service.

Rana pointed out that while roads remain blocked, water supply disrupted, electricity cut, and the PWD has incurred losses exceeding Rs. 500 crore, the minister chose to travel abroad rather than stay with his people during this crisis. “In such dire circumstances, the presence of the minister among the affected would have been a sign of leadership and responsibility,” said Rana.

“Adding to the controversy, the tour – covering South Korea and Japan – is reportedly being funded by the Shimla Smart City project. Sources indicate the 10-day visit by the minister, four MLAs, and two senior officials could cost over Rs. 70 lakh. A letter from the Urban Development Department directed the Smart City administration to arrange these funds from its office expenses. Notably, no project officer from the Smart City team was included in the tour, raising questions about the objective of the visit” said Rana.

Ajay Rana questioned the purpose of learning from abroad when the Smart City project is nearing completion. “What was there to learn at this point? Instead of providing relief to citizens, public funds are being misused for political tourism,” he remarked.

“The move has sparked discontent within bureaucratic circles as well, with officials expressing concern over the unusual source of funding for the trip amid a humanitarian crisis back home” he added.