Backing Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, the PWD Minister warns IAS and IPS officers to serve as “public servants, not rulers.”
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, January 13, 2026: In a move that has sent shockwaves through the state’s administrative and political circles, Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh launched a blistering attack on senior bureaucrats hailing from outside the state. In a strongly worded social media post shared late Monday night, Singh—the son of six-time former CM Virbhadra Singh—claimed that several IAS and IPS officers, particularly those from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, are “tearing apart the essence of Himachaliyat.”
Endorsing recent remarks made by Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri in Mandi, Vikramaditya Singh cautioned that if these officers are not “tackled in time,” the long-term interests of Himachal Pradesh could be severely compromised. “We respect officers from other states, but they must learn from our local cadre. They should understand our culture and sensitivities,” the Minister wrote. He further advised the bureaucracy to remember their role as public servants, stating, “As long as you are in Himachal, serve the people. Do not make the mistake of trying to become rulers.”
On Tuesday, Singh stood firmly by his remarks during a press conference in Shimla, clarifying that his statement was not a personal vendetta but a necessary defense of the state’s 75 lakh residents. He alleged that certain officers are misappropriating budgets and failing to respect elected representatives. “Whether it is central funds or taxpayer money, it belongs to the people of Himachal. Their distribution must happen through those elected by the public,” he asserted. While some cabinet colleagues have urged restraint, the Minister’s comments have triggered a heated debate over regional identity versus the federal structure of All India Services.
