Bengaluru: An RTI reply to Prime Minister Modi foreign trips revealed he has spent a whopping amount of Rs 355 crore on his 41 trips to over 50 countries in a span of 48 months accounting to 165 days overall in two years spent on foreign lands.
RTI activist Bhimappa Gadad obtained the RTI’s queries submitted to Prime Minsiter’s Office(PMO) which revealed the data which was later shared by the New Indian Express.
The highest amount was spent on Modiji’s nine-day trip visit to France, Germany and Canada between April 9 and 15 which incurred a cost of Rs 31,25,78,000 while the least incurred cost was for PM Modi’s first visit as Indian Prime Minister to Bhutan on June 15-16,2014 was Rs 2,45,27,465.
When asked why did Gadad filed the RTI petition seeking details about the expenses on PM’s foreign trips, he said he filed it out of curiosity. “ A few years ago, I had applied for details of foreign visits by chief ministers of Karnataka. Recently, I was going through news reports wherein Prime Minister’s foreign visits were heavily criticized. Then I applied under RTI seeking details of PM’s foreign visits and I was really shocked to know the details.”
Though the PMO provided information on foreign trips expenses, they have ignored the providing information on domestic travels of the Prime Minister.
“They have not furnished details of domestic visits and expenses for security provided during the visits. I did not ask for details of security measures. I just asked for the expenses, but they refused, saying the SPG security organisation, which takes care of PM security, is exempted from the purview of RTI,” he said.
“Though I got the information out of curiosity, I want it to reach the public. Everyone should know about it,” Gadad said.
He further added that the Government should furnish details and benefits of visiting these countries for the people.