Raising apprehensions about the purpose of the ongoing visit of Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy to Singapore, Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on Friday said as there was no clarity on whether he had permission from the President, she was compelled to report the matter to the Centre, seeking a direction to the Chief Minister and Ministers to adhere to protocol.
“For overseas travels, everyone in government even on a private visit has to seek prior approval of the appointing authority or the head of the department. In the case of Chief Minister, it is the President, being the appointing authority. It is not known if the Chief Minister has taken permission for his current visit and in the past. Information about his travels are known only through newspapers or rumours,” Ms. Bedi said in a WhatsApp message to the media.
As per reports and statements made by the Chief Minister in Singapore, she said Mr. Narayanasamy was on a private visit but also doing “government work”.
The Lieutenant Governor’s office has no information about the travel plans of the Chief Minister, she said.
Mr. Narayanasamy, along with Minister for Industries M.O.H.F Shahjahan and Chairman of Puducherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation Limited R. Siva, is on a three-day visit to Singapore where they have held deliberations with trade bodies and firms seeking investment in the Union Territory.
‘Reported to Centre’
“In the interest of security of the State I have been compelled to report this pattern to Government of India with a request to either remind the CM and Ministers the applicable protocols for such visits and to follow the due process required for foreign travels, private or official. The Government of India also must know who is hosting them and funding when on a private visit,” the Lt. Governor said.
Ms. Bedi said the Centre had sought an explanation from Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao on his frequent visits to Sri Lanka.
“He is yet to furnish the details,” the Lt. Governor said.
