An RTI query has revealed that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had splurged large amount of public money on a trip to the United States with his cabinet colleagues in 2013.
In response to a query by RTI activist Sanjay Sharma, joint secretary and public information officer in the state’s secretariat administration Shailendra Kumar said a little over Rs 1.06 crore had been spent on the visit.
While Rs 52.50 lakh was spent on purchasing air tickets, Rs 53.78 lakh was spent on food and lodging, the RTI response said.
Ironically, the true purpose of the trip never fructified as Akhilesh, in the US to attend an annual event at the prestigious Harvard University with eleven of his cabinet colleagues, boycotted the event as US immigration officials mistreated one of his ministers Azam Khan.
Khan also returned without attending the function after his alleged mistreatment at the Logan airport.
Sharma, founder and chairman of TAHRIR (Transparency, Accountability & Human Rights initiative for revolution), sharply criticized the chief minister for “wasting” tax payer's money on “useless” foreign jaunts.