THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan drew severe criticism after stonewalling critical queries in the Kerala Legislative Assembly regarding foreign visits undertaken by himself and his cabinet ministers.
Rather than providing clear figures, sponsorship details, or official travel itineraries, the former Chief Minister relied on a single stock response: “Information is being collected.”
The matter came to light during the 14th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly, following Unstarred Question No. 5 submitted by MLA Sunny Joseph.
Key Queries Posed in the AssemblyThe question aimed to hold the executive accountable by seeking full transparency on the following points:Travel Details: The list of countries visited by the Chief Minister and ministers, exact trip durations, and details of accompanying individuals or delegations. Sponsorship Details: Comprehensive information on any private or third-party sponsors supporting these overseas visits.Objectives: The specific official purposes and goals behind each foreign visit. Itemized Expenses: Detailed breakdowns of funds spent on accommodation, food, travel, and the total exchequer expenditure incurred for each trip.
Standard Reply Sparks Criticism Instead of delivering an itemized accounting of state expenses or confirming the identity of trip sponsors, the former Chief Minister submitted a standard one-line reply stating that the information was still under collection.
