Aaditya Thackeray Questions Shinde's Davos Visit With Jumbo Delegation
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLA Aditya Thackeray on Sunday questioned Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Davos tour with a delegation of more than 50 people to attend the World Economic Forum meet. He alleged that some of the delegates are going with their children.
Raising the issue on X account, the junior Thackeray, who had been a part of the Davos delegation in the MVA government, said, “There’s news on the Davos delegation of the illegal regime in Maharashtra. The unconstitutional CM is taking a personal entourage of almost 50 people to Davos. This includes officers, staffers and more. One can understand, at the maximum, spouses, but for some of them, their kids are also being taken along as if this is a holiday, taking up the number to almost 70 people. Or may be this is really a holiday.”
The Shiv Sena UBG leader alleged that only about 10 delegates have sought the MEA’s necessary political clearance, while the rest are being taken along for this Swiss trip without even applying for the MEA’s clearance.
“All 50 should typically need political clearance as they represent formal agencies of the Govt of Maharashtra, therefore Govt of India. Even if some have been made to pay for their own travel, they will use the cars, hotels, and food paid for by us, as taxpayers! More so, they will represent our country and state. Only keen to know if the MEA has started allowing such big junkets, officially,” Mr. Thackeray said.
A delegation led by Mr. Shinde will attend the World Economic Forum at Davos from January 15 to January 20. An official said that the secretaries of the industries department, chief minister office and the urban development department are part of the delegation.
“Some officials will leave for Davos on Monday morning. The remaining officials will depart in the evening along with the chief minister,” the official said.
Last year, the MoUs (memorandums of understanding) worth Rs 1.37 lakh crore were signed by the Maharashtra government in Davos World Economic Forum summit. According to the state government, the MoUs worth Rs 1.06 lakh crore materialised and are in several stages of implementation.
