MEA said no to 39 trips by 25 Union ministers

In foreign visits,ministers,former PMs spent Rs 499.89 cr in 2011-12 against budgeted Rs 46.95 cr.

Even as 2011-12 saw Union ministers going on an unprecedented number of foreign trips,the MEA has refused clearance on several grounds for at least 39 proposed trips by 25 Union ministers since June 2009. Some of them are no longer ministers.

All these trips,barring one,fell in the official category.

The ministers had proposed to travel to destinations such as the US,UK,France,Italy,Japan,Australia and South Africa,and the total number of days they would have been abroad were 125,barring travel time. The Indian Express obtained this information under the Right to Information Act (RTI).

Among those denied clearance were Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar,Commerce Minister Anand Sharma,Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal,Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily,Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Food Minister K V Thomas (who has so far received four refusals under UPA-II,the maximum).

Pawar,who wanted to travel to France for two days in February 2010,said his ministry had simply asked for the MEAs advice and the ministry had counselled against a trip. I generally avoid travelling abroad. I travel only when it seems must to travel, Pawar told The Indian Express.

In its reply to the RTI application,the MEA said the 39 trips that were denied included those in which political clearance didnt come through,in which proposals for trips were rejected and in which foreign trip was not recommended.

The Prime Ministers Office gives approvals for Union ministers official and personal foreign trips. They are supposed to follow austerity measures adopted by the Department of Expenditure,an aspect looked after by the financial advisor in the concerned ministry.

Story continues below this ad

However,before the proposal goes to the PMO,political clearance is needed from the MEA. Sometimes,the MEAs advice is sought before the proposal is given for political clearance. In many cases,the MEA advises at the very first stage that the minister need not travel to the said destination. Refusal on grounds of political clearance can be embarrassing for a minister.

For political clearance,the MEA takes into account the nature and purpose of the proposed visit,the foreign dignitaries/ organisations/ institutions with which interaction is sought,the nature of the invitations received from foreign authorities,if any,and the timing of the visit.

While these denials were not issued for any financial or austerity reasons,the fact remains that against the Rs 46.95 crore budgeted for their foreign tour expenses in 2011-12,Cabinet ministers,ministers of state and former prime ministers spent Rs 499.89 crore.

While Pawar wanted to travel to France for an important international agriculture exhibition in Paris,Thomas was to visit Germany,Morocco,China and the US. In October 2011,Thomass plans for a three-day trip to New Jersey in the US for the Fourth National Conference of India Press Club of North America were shot down.

Story continues below this ad

Jaiswal was denied a visit to Australia,Japan and the UK in March this year to address the Commonwealth Energy Summit.

Ministers who were denied clearance

Sharad Pawar

France (Feb 26-27,2010)

Anand Sharma

Hong Kong (Nov 15-16,2011)

Praful Patel

Turkey (Oct 31,2009)

Subodh Kant Sahay

Germany (Jan 13-17,2010)

C P Joshi