Ashish Shelar’s Rs 70 Lakh Barcelona Trip Sparks Public Outcry

Delegation of Three to Attend Tech Summit at Taxpayer Expense

X: @vivekbhavsar

Mumbai : Six months into the formation of the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, Ashish Shelar, the BJP’s ambitious leader and current Minister for Cultural Affairs and Information Technology, is facing sharp criticism. Despite heading the IT department, Shelar has reportedly failed to set up an official government email ID in this period. Yet, he is now embarking on a high-cost foreign tour to Barcelona, Spain, to attend the IOT Solutions World Congress and Barcelona Cyber Security Congress 2025. The government has approved a staggering Rs 70 lakh for the eight-day trip (including travel), which includes two other senior officials from his department — the Principal Secretary and a Senior Advisor.

The summit, often seen as a showcase for global IT giants, is more about corporate lobbying and product promotion than government policy-making. Critics argue that such events are nothing more than expensive public relations exercises, where private companies woo policymakers under the guise of technological exchange.

Given India’s robust digital ecosystem and the central government’s Digital India and Make in India missions, the justification for sending a ministerial delegation abroad — especially at this cost — is being questioned. Opposition leaders are also raising concerns about Shelar’s digital competence, especially since his ministry has failed to activate a simple email ID in half a year.

According to a government order issued recently, the delegation’s total sanctioned expenses break down as follows:
• Ashish Shelar: Rs 24.08 lakh
• Principal Secretary Parag Jain: Rs 15.68 lakh
• Senior Advisor Sagar Shirke: Rs 8.92 lakh
• Maharashtra Government Exhibition Stall: Rs 10.31 lakh
• Miscellaneous Expenses: Rs 10.99 lakh

Shelar has been cleared for first-class air travel — a round-trip ticket costing Rs 8.71 lakh. Jain will travel business class for Rs 2.02 lakh, and Shirke economy class for Rs 79,000. Even combined, the airfare totals just over Rs 11.5 lakh.

This implies that over Rs 58 lakh is being spent on accommodations, allowances, and other non-travel-related costs. For example, Shelar alone will receive nearly Rs 16 lakh beyond his ticket; Jain over Rs 13 lakh; and Shirke approximately Rs 10 lakh.

Even if the delegates stay in Barcelona’s upscale Le Meridien — where a luxury suite costs about Rs 35,000 a night — their total hotel bill for seven days wouldn’t exceed Rs 8 lakh.

So where is the rest of the money going?

That’s the question taxpayers and opposition parties alike are asking. Is this really about advancing Maharashtra’s digital future — or is it a lavish overseas junket at the public’s expense?