Keshubhai Patel's foreign tour criticised

GANDHINAGAR, SEPT. 1. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) has criticised the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr. Keshubhai Patel's private visit abroad for converting it into an ``official'' one on the grounds of meeting non-resident Indians (NRIs).

In its report placed before the Vidhan Sabha here today the CAG pointed out that the purpose of the tour was not achieved as commitments of donation worth Rs. 5.11 crores did not materialise.

It said the Chief Minister's officials accompanied Mr. Patel without obtaining approval of the Union Minister for Finance.

They incurred an expenditure of $ 2500 drawn towards entertainment allowance. Detailed accounts were not submitted, it added.

The report said the number of members in the delegation for the eighth annual World Economic Development Congress, U.S., headed by the Minister of Industries, Mr. Suresh Mehta, increased from three to eight.

Justification for inclusion of four members was not available on record. No information was furnished in audit whether the foreign travel for attracting NRIs' investment was in conformity with the Government of India's guideline.

The CAG's report pointed out that the expenditure on the foreign travel of the Minister of Industries and Secretary, Industries and Mines Department was irregularly debited to other bodies in contravention of the central guideline.

Similarly, expenditure of foreign travel of other officers was debited to various boards and corporations in violation of Government of India guidelines.

The report added that in majority of the cases of foreign travel, Government of India guidelines were routinely flouted.

- UNI

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