Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday played down the controversy surrounding Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh's recent remarks. Singh had questioned the functioning and integrity of IAS and IPS officers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who are posted in the Himachal Pradesh cadre.
Chief Minister's Calming Statement
Sukhu addressed mediapersons in Delhi, stating there was no need to overemphasize such statements. He firmly asserted that all officers in the hill state were working efficiently in the interest of Himachal Pradesh.
"There is no such controversy," the chief minister declared. "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 highlighted his government's strong stands on various issues that remained unresolved for decades. He cited specific legal victories as evidence of effective governance.
- The state secured Rs 401 crore in revenue from the Wild Flower Hall property case.
- Himachal Pradesh won an 18% royalty from the JSW power company.
These achievements, according to Sukhu, demonstrate that there is no justification for amplifying this particular issue.
Cabinet Colleagues Distance Themselves
Meanwhile, Education Minister Rohit Thakur became the fourth minister in the Sukhu cabinet to distance himself from Vikramaditya Singh's sweeping statement. Thakur cautioned against generalizing 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," Thakur stated. "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 noted that a negative approach was not limited to officers from outside the state. He observed that similar perspectives might also exist among officers associated with Himachal Pradesh.
Despite his criticism of the remarks, Thakur described Vikramaditya Singh as an "efficient and capable minister." He suggested that any concerns raised by Singh should be addressed by the chief minister, as head of the state, to bring clarity to the situation.
Earlier Objections from Ministers
Three other ministers had already criticized Vikramaditya Singh's remarks earlier in the week.
- Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi
- Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh
- Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani
These ministers stated that such issues should be raised in the cabinet or with the chief minister instead of being aired publicly through the media. They argued that the statement had demoralized officers and harmed the image of the state government.
Officers' Associations Express Anguish
The IAS and IPS officers' associations expressed "deep anguish" over the remarks. They urged the government to uphold the dignity and neutrality of the civil services. The associations made a specific request not to post any IPS officer with Vikramaditya Singh following his comments.
PWD Minister Stands His Ground
Despite sharp criticism from colleagues and officers' associations, Vikramaditya Singh stood by his statement. He declared he would not compromise on the interests of Himachal Pradesh.
The PWD minister claimed that Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri had also raised concerns about bureaucratic high-handedness at a Congress rally in Mandi in December. Singh stated he merely echoed those views in his recent remarks.
Reiterating his respect for officers, Vikramaditya Singh emphasized they should serve the people of Himachal Pradesh. He stressed that officers should not act like rulers but as public servants dedicated to the state's welfare.
