Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has delayed his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom and Germany, which was initially scheduled for October 1 to 8. An official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) announced this development. The rescheduled dates for the tour are currently being determined, with no specific reason provided for the postponement.
The purpose of Shinde’s visit was to lead a delegation comprising representatives from various industries and departments. The delegation’s objectives included participating in investment conferences and formalizing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between cities in Maharashtra and Germany. Additionally, an MoU was set to be signed for the return of the ‘wagh nakh,’ an iron weapon resembling tiger claws used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, from the UK. An official from the CMO stated that details of the revised tour program are currently in progress.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray expressed concerns about the trip in a post, remarking, “The CM has planned a week-long foreign trip. While I have no objection to foreign trips that bring investment or recognition to our nation or state, it cannot be like his Davos trip where the government spent almost Rs 40 crore on a 28-hour holiday.” Thackeray pointed out that there were no meetings, photos, or outcomes from the Davos trip, and the expenses were not transparent. Thackeray called for transparency in Shinde’s travel schedule and activities during the 10-day trip to ensure it serves a legitimate purpose and does not become an extended holiday at the taxpayers’ expense.