Trump India Visit: Rs 38 lakh was spent on Trump's 36-hour visit to India, family came in 2020

Posted on 18th Aug 2022 by rohit kumar

In 2020, the Central Government spent 38 lakh rupees on the visit of the then US President Donald Trump to India. The Trump family had come on a visit to India.

 

 

The Ministry of External Affairs has given this information to the Central Information Commission in response to an RTI application. The central government said that in 2020, about 38 lakh rupees were spent on accommodation, food, etc. on the 36-hour official visit of former US President Donald Trump. Trump, on his first visit to India, visited Ahmedabad, Agra, and Delhi from February 24-25, 2020, along with his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and several top officials.

 

Trump spent three hours in Ahmedabad on February 24. During this, he participated in a 22 km long road show. He paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by visiting the Sabarmati Ashram and addressed a huge gathering 'Namaste Trump' along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the newly constructed Motera Cricket Stadium. Trump later went to see the Taj Mahal in Agra. In an RTI application, Mishal Bhathena had sought details of the expenditure incurred on Trump's visit from the Ministry of External Affairs.

 

Trump reached Delhi on 25 February. Here he had bilateral talks with PM Modi. Bhathena sought to know how much was spent by the Indian government during the visit of the President and First Lady of the US in February 2020. This includes the cost of food, security, accommodation, air travel, transportation, etc.

 

Bhathena had not received any reply after applying for Right to Information on October 24, 2020. Thereafter he filed the first appeal and later approached the highest appellate authority in RTI matters i.e. Central Information Commission.

 

The Ministry of External Affairs responded to the Commission on August 4, citing the Kovid-19 epidemic, for the delay in responding to information sought on Trump's travel expenses. The ministry in its reply has said that it is a well-established practice by the host countries to bear the cost of the visits of the heads of government of other countries. It should be as per internationally accepted norms. Accordingly, the Central Government has estimated total expenditure of Rs 38,00,000 on accommodation, food, etc. in connection with the official visit of US President Donald Trump to India on 24-25 February 2020.

 

After seeing the reply of the Ministry of External Affairs, Chief Information Commissioner YK Sinha said that a satisfactory reply has been given. The reason for the delay in replying has also been given.

Other news