President’s office justifies the costs incurred on the travel
29 Mar, 2012The office of President Pratibha Patil has defended foreign travel expenses of over Rs 205 crore in the context of "the rising global profile of India on account of its dynamic economy, strategic importance, democratic governance" and has described the comparisons between Pratibha Patil and her predecessors’ foreign visits as potentially misleading. As per a disclosure under the RTI Act reported in media including this site, Ms. Patil has gone on 12 foreign trips covering 22 The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. countries since 2007 when she assumed office.
The office of the President denied the allegation that the President was "mostly accompanied" by her family members on her foreign visits claimed that the standard protocol of taking ministers, MPs, senior officials, media among others was followed. It was also stated that all the visits were approved by the Prime Minister's Office and the External Affairs Ministry.