Munish Sood
MANDI:
The political atmosphere in Himachal Pradesh is buzzing with contrasting stories on foreign visits of two cabinet ministers in the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government.
While Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan left quietly for his official tour to Japan along with senior officials from his department, Health Minister Col Dhani Ram Shandil’s proposed visit invited troubles for him much before he could ever leave the state.
Harshvardhan Chauhan leaves for Japan
The Industries Minister left India for Japan on Tuesday (September 30, 2025), leading a delegation of senior officers to bring new investment for the state. Their main motto is to bring new industries to the Bulk Drug Park in Haroli in Una District and the Medical Device Park at Nalagarh, and also to other industrial areas of the state including Baddi, Nalagarh and Sirmour.
The state government hopes to provide direct and indirect employment to over 40,000 youths with the induction of pharma companies in the state in the coming years. As per the information, the Industries Minister is expected to meet top pharma industrialists in Japan and sign some MoUs with them for investment in Himachal Pradesh.
“We are focusing on single window clearance under one roof so that the investors do not face any problem,” said Chauhan before leaving the state. This tour is an exposure tour for the officials of our department and is expected to bring long term benefits to the economy of the state, he added.
Shandil’s son was to accompany him
Now comes the controversy and twist in the whole story. While there has been no controversy and no noise from any corner on Harshvardhan’s tour — either from the opposition, media or the public — Col Dhani Ram Shandil faced heavy criticism for his planned visit to London and France last week.
He was supposed to visit the European countries with his son and eight other delegates from the health department. Somehow, his travel information was leaked from his office and it created a furore in the state, spreading like wildfire on social media.
Leaders from the opposition wasted no time in questioning his visit. They alleged whether it was the right time to go abroad when the state was reeling under a disaster and the Chief Minister was also away with family in London on his personal visit.
They further questioned in what capacity his son was travelling with him, if it was an exposure visit for the health officials. Social media was stormed with criticism from all corners. The issue grew so much that the minister finally cancelled his tour, putting an end to all the controversies surrounding his family.
A day later, his son, Col Shandil, took to social media and expressed his anger and dissatisfaction over the whole episode. He vented all his anger on the officials of the health department, accusing them of being corrupt and suggesting their immediate removal from office. He even questioned the state government’s much-touted slogan “Vyastha Parivartan”, adding fuel to the whole controversy.
Opposition BJP raised hue and cry over Shandil’s tour
Political analysts say that no one was against the visit of Col Shandil, as it was a routine tour for which a special grant had already been paid to him much in advance. “The problem was his son, who was accompanying him as a fellow traveller, which created the whole controversy. Had his name not been there, things would have moved smoothly and by now the minister might have been in Europe,” one explained.
This one name diverted the entire focus of an official tour to a family trip, which people believed was meant for enjoyment rather than an official trip, he added.
Both visits had their own official importance for the state as well as the delegates, but while the industries delegation was focused on bringing billions in investment, the health delegation’s goal of improving medical infrastructure was marred by allegations of nepotism.
For now, Harshvardhan Chauhan works with his delegation silently in Japan while Shandil battles criticism at home — a stark reminder that in politics, perception often matters more than actions.
