EXCLUSIVE: RTI reveals Kerala govt spent Rs 27.9 lakh to commemorate Fidel Castro

General ministration Department of Kerala government could be hauled over coals yet again just after details emerged of extravagant spending for commemoration of Cuban revolutionary leer Fidel Castro in state.

department me a lavish tribute to commemorate anniversary of Castro in state capital using public money. This was revealed in a response to an RTI application filed by K Govindan Nampoothiry from Kochi. 

As per response,  state government spent Rs 1,37,745 to commemorate Cuban revolutionary leer at an event held at University Senate Hall in Thiruvananthapuram on November 29, 2016, just a few months after LDF government came to power in state.  Senate Hall event was attended by party leers including leer of opposition Ramesh Chennithala and BJP's lone MLA O Rajagopal among many or dignitaries. 

What could be termed as an exorbitant and unnecessary expenditure with no benefit for state exchequer is fact that department spent a whopping Rs 26.60 lakh on Newspaper vertisement for commemoration event. 

This is first time State government is officially commemorating on such a massive scale. se vertisements were released to over 70 newspapers and periodicals in state with a face of Fiedel Castro in it. 

Shockingly, RTI reply issued by General ministration (Political) Department on February 22, 2017, states that program was overseen on instructions of Kerala Chief Minister's Office.

What makes this move, even more, questionable is fact that G allegedly organised commemoration without releasing a government order in this regard.

"Why Kerala Government organised an event to commemorate a foreign leer who hasn't done anything for development of Kerala. Moreover, state government does not even have trition of commemorating foreign leers. A probe is must on this matter to examine wher it has resulted in malministration of power," Govindan stated.

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In RTI reply (No: 4384 / C2 / 2017 / IP & PR) issued by Information & Public Relations (C) Department on May 9, 2017, it is claimed that Rs. Rs 2,32,560 was allotted to media which submitted bill. It also provided list of about 70 media houses which received vertisement.  state government is obliged to release pending amount when or newspapers submit bill.

Republic TV independently investigated some of media groups in list and ir accounts department confirmed receipt of amount. bills reveal se were received through Directorate of Information and Public Relations Department.

Responding to issue, political analyst Sreejith Panicker said, "On one hand government says y are financially broke, but on or hand y shell out money for such 'non-essential shows.' This shows y are not as hard up as y claim to be. Should one assume reality lies somewhere in between?"

ding credence to it, Govindan said, in 2016 same government was facing a severe financial crisis to disburse welfare pension. Govindan also cast his doubt on some of lesser-known periodicals and newspapers mentioned in list of 70 which h received se vertisements. 

"How could government do such a massive vertisement campaign for a single day commemoration of a foreign leer? " he said.

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