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‘Serve Himachal, not rule’: Vikramaditya Singh echoes deputy CM, says some UP, Bihar officers not working in state’s interest

In a Facebook post, Vikramaditya Singh said that officers from other states should learn from Himachal Pradesh cadre officers and understand the state’s culture and sensitivities.

4 min readShimlaUpdated: Jan 14, 2026 03:54 AM IST

Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh. (Source: Express Archives)

Nearly a month after Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri publicly warned bureaucrats against “meeting people against the government,” Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday endorsed his remarks, saying that some IAS and IPS officers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were not working in the interest of “Himachaliat” or the ethos and interests of the state.

In a strongly worded post shared on his Facebook page, Vikramaditya—the son of six-time former chief minister Virbhadra Singh—claimed that such IAS and IPS officers had little concern for the state and warned that if they were not “tackled in time,” Himachal’s interests could be seriously harmed.

The post has since gone viral on social media, garnering over 6k likes and more than 600 comments within hours, triggering a fresh debate over the role of officers from outside the state in Himachal’s administration.

Writing in Hindi, Vikramaditya said that while officers from other states were respected, they should learn from Himachal Pradesh cadre officers and understand the state’s culture and sensitivities. He advised bureaucrats to focus on serving the people rather than behaving like rulers.

His post stated, “Hum Up-Mukhya Mantri Himachal Pradesh kai mandi speech sai sehmmat hai. Kuch UP-Bihar ke IAS-IPS Himachal mein Himachaliat ki dhajjiyan uda rahe hain… unhein Himachal se koi zyada sarokar nahi hai… jab tak Himachal mein ho, Himachal ki seva karo, shashak banne ki galti na karo (We agree with the Deputy Chief Minister’s speech delivered in Mandi. Some IAS-IPS officers from UP-Bihar are overlooking the Himachaliat. They don’t have concerns with the interests of Himachal. They should serve Himachal, not make a mistake to become a ruler).”

‘Officers can’t ignore MPs, MLAs’

When contacted, Vikramaditya said he stood by the words he shared in his Facebook post. “These are not personal comments. I am well aware of the structure of the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service within our democratic framework. However, officers posted in Himachal Pradesh cannot ignore public representatives (MLAs and MPs). They should not treat elected representatives as mere guarantors,” he added.

“The officers to whom my remarks were directed are fully aware of what I meant. There have been instances where the concerns of Himachalis were not taken into consideration by these officers,” he further said.

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However, the minister declined to elaborate on specific instances in which, according to him, the interests of Himachalis were overlooked by officers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Agnihotri’s warning to bureaucrats

While Vikramaditya did not respond to repeated calls for clarification, Sources said Vikramaditya’s remarks clearly indicate solidarity with Agnihotri, who has on several occasions expressed displeasure with the functioning of the state bureaucracy. Agnihotri is known to have been a close confidant of Virbhadra Singh.

“Although there is no direct confrontation among the officers of IAS and IPS, it is a fact that bureaucrats from UP and Bihar currently hold all important posts in the state,” a source added.

On December 6 last year, while addressing a state-sponsored function in Mandi to mark three years of the Congress government, Agnihotri had warned that bureaucrats “will be dealt with in the dark of night” if they acted against the government—remarks that had drawn sharp reactions from administrative circles.

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Meanwhile, a senior IAS officer said that Himachal Pradesh currently has a total strength of 154 IAS officers, of whom 107 are directly recruited, while 43 are officers promoted from the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services cadre. Similarly, the state has a total strength of 96 IPS officers of whom 1/3rd are officers promoted from the Himachal Pradesh Police Services. Directly recruited IAS or IPS officers serving in Himachal come from many states, including Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, UP, and Bihar, among others.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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