COIMBATORE: The government spent more than Rs 676 crore on ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s foreign visits, a response sought under the RTI Act by city-based activist Daniel Jesudass has found.
According to the RTI reply, the Prime Minister’s Office said the government incurred the humongous expense on Manmohan’s overseas visits between May 2004 and March 2013. “The government spent about Rs 676 crore exclusively on Manmohan Singh’s visits during his nine-year tenure. He visited as many as 36 countries,” said the RTI reply.
Manmohan’s first visit to Bangkok between July 29 and July 31, 2004, cost the government Rs 5,38,95,000. The government spent Rs 10,94,79,000 on his last visit to South Africa on
March 25, 2013, said the RTI reply. Jesudass had also sought foreign visit expense details of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and incumbent Narendra Modi (up to April). However, the PMO shared only information pertaining to Manmohan’s visits. Jesudass had also wanted expenses incurred by the state during US President Barack Obama’s visit as well as the value of gift articles provided to visiting heads of state and ministers. He has decided to approach the PMO again to ascertain whether the overseas visits of the PMs were beneficial.
“Modi spent more days abroad than he spent in the country. I will seek details of projects executed and how they benefited the public during the PMs’ visits as they are using public money,” said Jesudass.