EXCLUSIVE: RTI reveals Kerala govt spent Rs 27.9 lakh to commemorate Fidel Castro

The General Administration Department of the Kerala government could be hauled over the coals yet again just after details emerged of extravagant spending for the commemoration of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in the state.

The department made a lavish tribute to commemorate the anniversary of Castro in the state capital using public money. This was revealed in a response to an RTI application filed by K Govindan Nampoothiry from Kochi. 

As per the response, the state government spent Rs 1,37,745 to commemorate Cuban revolutionary leader at an event held at the University Senate Hall in Thiruvananthapuram on November 29, 2016, just a few months after the LDF government came to power in the state. The Senate Hall event was attended by party leaders including leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala and BJP's lone MLA O Rajagopal among many other dignitaries. 

What could be termed as an exorbitant and unnecessary expenditure with no benefit for the state exchequer is the fact that the department spent a whopping Rs 26.60 lakh on Newspaper advertisement for the commemoration event. 

This is the first time the State government is officially commemorating on such a massive scale. These advertisements were released to over 70 newspapers and periodicals in the state with a face of Fiedel Castro in it. 

Shockingly, the RTI reply issued by the General Administration (Political) Department on February 22, 2017, states that the program was overseen on the instructions of the Kerala Chief Minister's Office.

What makes this move, even more, questionable is the fact that GAD allegedly organised the commemoration without releasing a government order in this regard.

"Why the Kerala Government organised an event to commemorate a foreign leader who hasn't done anything for the development of Kerala. Moreover, the state government does not even have the tradition of commemorating foreign leaders. A probe is must on this matter to examine whether it has resulted in maladministration of power," Govindan stated.

READ | Kerala Government Orders 100 Per Cent Attendance In Its Offices

READ | Kerala 2015 Assembly Violence: Court Won't Withdraw Case; 6 Of Vijayan's MLAs In Trouble

In the RTI reply (No: 4384 / C2 / 2017 / IP & PR) issued by the Information & Public Relations (C) Department on May 9, 2017, it is claimed that Rs. Rs 2,32,560 was allotted to the media which submitted the bill. It also provided the list of about 70 media houses which received the advertisement. The state government is obliged to release the pending amount when other newspapers submit the bill.

Republic TV independently investigated some of the media groups in the list and their accounts department confirmed receipt of the amount. The bills reveal these were received through the Directorate of Information and Public Relations Department.

Responding to the issue, political analyst Sreejith Panicker said, "On one hand the government says they are financially broke, but on the other hand they shell out money for such 'non-essential shows.' This shows they are not as hard up as they claim to be. Should one assume the reality lies somewhere in between?"

Adding credence to it, Govindan said, in 2016 the same government was facing a severe financial crisis to disburse welfare pension. Govindan also cast his doubt on some of the lesser-known periodicals and newspapers mentioned in the list of 70 which had received these advertisements. 

"How could the government do such a massive advertisement campaign for a single day commemoration of a foreign leader? " he said.

READ | Kerala Reports Single Biggest Day Surge, Reports 5376 Fresh COVID-19 Cases

READ | Farm Bill Faceoff Gets Bigger: Kerala Govt To Move Supreme Court Upon Seeking Legal Advice