Satheesan defends chartered flight and minister foreign trips as no state money spent
· India · Hindustan Times, The Hindu
Chief Minister V D Satheesan justified his chartered flight to rain-hit Malappuram and foreign visits by cabinet colleagues, stating no state exchequer funds were used. He said an acquaintance arranged the aircraft and declined to name the sponsor, adding he would undertake such journeys again if required. Satheesan noted that former chief ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Oommen Chandy had also used private aircraft. He defended ministers' foreign trips, saying expatriate organisations buying tickets for official programmes was acceptable and done with his permission. The opposition CPI accused the UDF government of violating the oath of office over the chartered flight.
Why it matters
The controversy raises questions about ethical use of private resources by public officials in Kerala, affecting public trust in government accountability. It also highlights differing norms around ministerial travel and the use of personal or external sponsorship for official duties.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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