Centre denies permission to Kerala Minister Veena George to visit Kuwait

KOCHI: The central government has denied permission to Kerala Health Minister Veena Vijayan to travel to Kuwait. Responding to the media, the minister said that she did not get political clearance from the Centre. The minister arrived in Kochi from Pathanamthitta to go to Kuwait on a 9.40 pm flight. Although she attempted to obtain permission through the Resident Commissioner in Delhi, the attempt was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the Centre has not clarified why it denied permission to the Kerala minister. The minister is remaining at the airport.

Earlier, it was announced that Minister Veena George would be travelling to Kuwait tonight. State Mission Director (NHM) Jeevan Babu was supposed to accompany the minister. However, Jeevan Babu was also denied permission by the Centre.

The bodies of the Malayalees killed in the fire accident in Kuwait will be brought to Kochi tomorrow. The minister was supposed to go to Kuwait for the coordination of activities such as the treatment of the injured Malayalees and the repatriation of the bodies of the deceased.