‘CM and family flew abroad at own expense and not of state,’ says RTI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The RTI document stated that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family flew abroad at their own expenses. The chief minister spent twelve days in Dubai, Singapore and Indonesia. The RTI document stated that no money was spent from the government exchequer for his itinerary.

The chief minister was accompanied by his wife Kamala Vijayan and grandson. He was not accompanied by security personnel or government officials during the trip. Apart from the chief minister, Ministers P A Muhammad Riyas and K B Ganesh Kumar also went abroad at their own expense.

The chief minister went abroad on May 6. The opposition had come forward with accusations against the journey of the chief minister and his family. KPCC president K Sudhakaran asked from where he got the money to fly abroad for his private visit. BJP leader and Union Minister V Muraleedharan also demanded that the sponsor of the trip should be disclosed, stating that there was no prior notification regarding the foreign travel.

The opposition also alleged that while the national leaders including CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat were seeking votes in the states where the party is contesting, senior politburo member and the country's only Left Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan went abroad for vacation.

CPM central committee member A K Balan came forward responding to the allegations. He had responded that all the rumors about the chief minister's foreign trip are myths. The chief minister returned early after ending his visit.

The chief minister, who worked hard for Nava Kerala, had done a great job in connection with the elections. He has the right to rest. He asked, even God, who made earth in six days, rested on the seventh day. What is the point of asking the chief minister, who draws a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh, from where he got the money to fly? Ministers have visited foreign countries earlier also. Balan said there was no controversy then.

The chief minister returned early to Thiruvananthapuram on May 18 after ending his foreign visit.