THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, April 30: BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo has sharply criticised Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s recent visit to Sweden and Spain, calling it a “successful tourist trip” but a “complete failure” in attracting investment to Jharkhand.
Speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters, Shahdeo questioned both the purpose and the financial rationale of the 11-member foreign delegation. He highlighted that the government had sanctioned ₹4.30 crore for the tour, much of which was handed over to a private event management firm. “Reputed travel operators in Ranchi estimate the trip could have been organised for ₹2.75 lakh per person. Why spend crores through an outside agency?” he asked.
Shahdeo demanded clarity on the role of the event management company, particularly when the Chief Minister was accompanied by senior officials. “If the entire trip was government-led, what was the need for outsourcing its management?” he said.
He further noted that despite the expenditure, no official investment agreement had been announced. Images shared from the tour only mentioned ‘investment possibilities’—without any signed MoUs or concrete partnerships.
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The BJP leader also raised concerns about a football-related partnership. While the Chief Minister was seen visiting FC Barcelona, the official tie-up was with RCDE Barcelona Club, a mid-tier Spanish club owned by Chinese businessman Chen Yansheng. “The government should have conducted proper due diligence, especially given the owner’s controversial background and China’s current geopolitical stance,” Shahdeo stated.
He also questioned the logic behind visiting Volvo in Sweden to explore electric vehicle technology, pointing out that such technology is already being developed in Bengaluru and Pune by companies like Volvo and Tata. Shahdeo dismissed reports linking Tesla to the trip, clarifying that the mention referred to the Czech-based Tesla Group AS, not Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc.
Shahdeo also criticised claims that the CM studied sports marketing in Spain and Sweden, where cricket has little to no presence. “The IPL in India offers far more relevant insights into cricket branding,” he said.
He concluded by urging the state government to release a white paper detailing the expenses, signed agreements, and actual outcomes of the tour.