Agriculture Minister's Israel trip dropped due to civil war; nothing to do with criticism, says CPM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Agriculture minister P. Prasad’s Israel journey has been delayed following sudden terrorist attacks in Jersulaiam and nearby areas. The minister was all set for his Israel journey to learn more about the intricacies of modern agriculture. It was after the Chief minister's advice that the trip was canceled. A Jewish synagogue was attacked by Palestinian assailants as retribution for Israel's earlier bombing of Gaza which killed nine Palestinians. Even before the Palestinian attack, the Kerala minister's trip to Israel was mired in controversy. The overall budget for the Israel trip was zeroed in as two crores; that too at a time when the state coffers are empty. The criticism even came from the top echelons of the party that forced the chief minister to cut down the plans. The minister was about to leave Israel with the chaperone of selected media persons and higher officials from the agriculture department.