CMs meeting CMs in Switzerland to sign deals, criminal waste of money: Rajiv Shukla
The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, is an annual gathering of global leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to discuss and shape the global economy. This year, several Indian Chief Ministers are attending the forum, which has sparked a controversy back home. Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Shukla has strongly criticized the participation of Indian Chief Ministers in the WEF, calling it a “criminal waste of money.”
According to Shukla, it is strange that Indian Chief Ministers are traveling all the way to Switzerland to meet and sign agreements with Indian companies. “It’s strange…Indians are going to Davos to meet Indians. State governments are signing agreements with Indian companies in Switzerland which they could’ve done in India,” he said. This criticism is not unfounded, as it does seem unnecessary for Indian Chief Ministers to travel abroad to meet with Indian companies and sign agreements that could have been done just as easily in India.
Shukla further emphasized the futility of this exercise by pointing out that Chief Ministers are meeting other Chief Ministers in Davos. “CMs are meeting CMs in Davos. It’s criminal waste of money,” he added. This statement highlights the absurdity of the situation, where Indian Chief Ministers are using public funds to travel to a foreign country to meet with their counterparts, rather than focusing on the development of their respective states.
The question that arises is, what is the purpose of Indian Chief Ministers attending the WEF in Davos? Is it to attract foreign investment, or to promote their states as investment destinations? If so, then it is unclear why they need to meet with Indian companies in Switzerland, rather than in India. It is also unclear what benefits the Indian economy will derive from these meetings, and whether the costs of attending the WEF are justified.
Moreover, the fact that Indian Chief Ministers are signing agreements with Indian companies in Switzerland raises questions about the transparency and accountability of these deals. Are these agreements being made in the best interests of the Indian people, or are they being driven by other considerations? The lack of transparency and accountability in these dealings is a cause for concern, and it is legitimate to ask whether the Indian public is being well-served by these actions.
It is also worth noting that the WEF is an elite gathering of global leaders, and it is not clear how the participation of Indian Chief Ministers in this forum will benefit the average Indian citizen. The WEF is often criticized for being a platform for the wealthy and powerful to promote their interests, rather than a forum for addressing the pressing issues facing the global economy. In this context, the participation of Indian Chief Ministers in the WEF raises questions about whose interests they are serving, and whether their attendance is justified.
In conclusion, the criticism leveled by Rajeev Shukla against the participation of Indian Chief Ministers in the WEF is valid. The fact that Indian Chief Ministers are traveling to Switzerland to meet with Indian companies and sign agreements that could have been done in India is a waste of public funds. The lack of transparency and accountability in these dealings is a cause for concern, and it is legitimate to ask whether the Indian public is being well-served by these actions. As Shukla pointed out, “CMs are meeting CMs in Davos. It’s criminal waste of money.” It is time for Indian Chief Ministers to prioritize the development of their states and the interests of the Indian people, rather than indulging in expensive and unnecessary foreign trips.
Source: https://x.com/ShuklaRajiv/status/2013664724563726652