Haryana minister Om Prakash Dhankar will lead a 12-member delegation to three countries to study latest methods in the field of agriculture and horticulture amid Opposition's criticism which termed it a "waste of taxpayers' money".
Dhankar, the minister of agriculture and horticulture, will proceed on the two-week visit to Australia, Fiji and New Zealand from June 6, officials said here.
The minister also holds the portfolios of irrigation development, panchayat, dairy and fishing. The delegation also comprises three senior bureaucrats and as many legislators, the officials said.
Abhay Chautala, Opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) secretary general and sitting MLA, hit out at the government over the decision saying that undertaking such "junkets" was a "waste of taxpayers" money.
"Instead, the government should focus on setting things right back home," he added.
Dhankar had led a delegation of legislators and bureaucrats to study agriculture techniques in the United States last August.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's recent official visit to Singapore and Hong Kong had drawn criticism from a section of the media, which had described it as a "junket".
Speaking at 'Swarna Jayanti Journalists Meet' at Panchkula last week, organised as part of Haryana's ongoing golden jubilee celebrations, Khattar had expressed displeasure over such description.
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