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Make expenses for Air India charter flights for PM Modi’s foreign trips public: CIC

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8 years ago

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Make expenses for Air India charter flights for PM Modi’s foreign trips public: CIC - APN Live

In an order that could cause much discomfiture to the BJP and give the Opposition some ammunition to target the Centre, the Central Information Commission has directed the Union External Affairs Ministry to disclose records related to the expenses incurred on chartering Air India aircraft for foreign visits of the prime minister from 2013 to 2017.

Though the period covered under the CIC order includes the last year of Dr Manmohan Singh’s prime ministerial tenure too (April 2013 to March 2014), the Opposition as well as Modi’s critics among common citizens would be keenly looking forward to the MEA’s response as the expenditure incurred on these chartered flights is expected to run into several crores of rupees. The likely narrative that Modi bashers would want to build, if and when these details are indeed made public, would be of the lavish spending that the Prime Minister has done of the exchequer’s money through his seemingly endless foreign visits and the corresponding monetary return – or lack of it – that this expenditure has brought for India’s economy.

Passing the order, Chief Information Commissioner RK Mathur rejected the contention of the MEA that details of the amount, reference numbers, dates of bills raised by Indian Air Force and Air India for the foreign visits undertaken by the Prime Minister(s) are scattered across various records and files and that collation of this information would involve searching of voluminous records by a significant number of officials.

The CIC order came against an application filed by one Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Commodore Batra had sought details of bills, invoices and other records related to foreign visits of the prime ministers between financial years 2013-14 and 2016-17.

Ever since assuming the office of Prime Minister in May 2014, Modi has been criticised for spending more time visiting countries than being in India. As of February 2018, Modi has visited 53 countries spread across six continents and 35 foreign trips.

Modi has visited USA on five occasions in the past four years and made three visits each to China, Germany, France and Russia. His robust international travel itinerary has also featured visits to countries like Afghanistan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, UAE, Uzbekistan (twice each) and Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the UK and Vietnam (once each), among others.

The order of the CIC comes after Batra, who had sought these details on several earlier occasions from various Indian high commissions abroad and the MEA, approached the Commission in appeal and claimed that he had either denied information or was provided with only selective details. He submitted before the CIC that he was seeking the said information in public interest, so that the common taxpayers can be informed of how their money was be spent by the Prime Minister and at what stage or with which public authority these bills and invoices for the foreign trips of the prime ministers were pending for payment.

“Air India is a cash-strapped airline that does not make money. Therefore, delay in settling these bills would also include sizable interest figure(s), which needs to be paid at the expense of tax payers money,” Batra had said. He had also insisted that denial of this information on the grounds of compromising national security – a clause often cited by public authorities to deny requested information – was incorrect as details sought by him are in the nature of the liabilities of the consumer(s) to pay back for the services rendered by Air India.

The CIC concluded that payment of outstanding dues would ultimately require collating of these bills and invoices and rejected the argument of the MEA that collation would disproportionately divert its resources. The Chief Information Commissioner said even if payment was made against these bills, it would have been done after compiling of bills/invoices.

“Further, whatever payment is to be made, it needs to be done after collecting the bills/invoices. In view of this, the Commission is of the opinion that the respondent (MEA) should provide to the appellant (Batra) travel bills relating to ‘Air India’ from FYs. 2013-14 to 2016-17,” the CIC order says.

—With Agency inputs, India Legal Bureau

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Champat Rai, Anil Mishra get clean chit in Ram Temple donation theft case 

The SIT probing alleged donation theft at the Ayodhya Ram Temple has cleared former Trust general secretary Champat Rai and former member Anil Mishra.

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8 hours ago

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August 18, 2026

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The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in donation management at the Ayodhya Ram Temple has cleared former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and former Trust member Anil Mishra.

The Uttar Pradesh Home Department on Monday handed over the SIT’s final report to the Trust, which will now take further action based on the findings.

Rai and Mishra had resigned from their positions on June 27 after allegations of donation theft emerged. The two former Trust members were subsequently questioned by the SIT about the temple’s donation management process.

Champat Rai denied involvement in donation theft

According to sources, Champat Rai told investigators during questioning that he had no role in the alleged theft. He reportedly said that the suspects were arrested following his complaint.

Rai also told the police that ensuring there were no irregularities in donation collection was part of his responsibility and that he acted after learning about the alleged wrongdoing.

SIT was formed before Supreme Court intervention

The three-member SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 at the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant headed the panel. Range Inspector General Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan Kumar were the other members.

The SIT submitted its preliminary report to the state government on June 23 and made several stringent recommendations.

Following the preliminary report, Trust member Krishnamohan filed a written complaint at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi police station. An FIR was subsequently registered on June 25.

Eight people named in FIR

The FIR named Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ramashankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ram Shankar Yadav, alias Tinnu, along with other unidentified individuals.

According to the provided report, all eight named accused were arrested and booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The SIT’s preliminary findings also formed the basis for subsequent FIRs and arrest-related action in the case.

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Himanta Sarma accuses Sonia, Rahul of provoking unrest over Vande Mataram row

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma criticised Sonia and Rahul Gandhi over the Vande Mataram controversy and accused Congress of provoking unrest.

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21 hours ago

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August 17, 2026

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Himanta sharma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday criticised Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over the controversy surrounding the rendition of Vande Mataram at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Independence Day.

Sarma questioned how the Congress would govern if it returned to power, alleging that the conduct of its senior leaders during the national song had raised concerns.

“During Vande Mataram, the way Sonia Gandhi behaved and the song was stopped midway clearly indicates that if Congress mistakenly comes to power, the country will face a worse situation,” Mr Sarma said.

The Assam Chief Minister also accused Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of encouraging protests in the name of Gen Z.

“Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have almost taken a decision to oppose the country in the name of Gen Z. They are provoking people to protest and trying hard to create a bad environment in the country,” he said.

Sarma further alleged that such actions could contribute to instability in the country.

“I am not bothered about these things, but these people are working against the country and provoking the people of the country to protest and bring anarchy,” he said.

What triggered the Vande Mataram controversy

The political row erupted after footage from the Congress Independence Day programme on August 15 surfaced on social media. The video showed senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, during the rendition of Vande Mataram.

BJP leaders have interpreted gestures seen in the footage as an attempt to interrupt the national song. The Congress, however, has rejected that interpretation.

The issue has since become a political flashpoint, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of disrespecting Vande Mataram.

A complaint seeking action against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over the alleged disruption is also being examined by the Delhi Police.

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BJP unveils 64-member national team with 3 former CMs, 18 MPs and 10 women

The BJP’s new 64-member national team includes three former chief ministers, 18 sitting MPs and 10 women, with representation from 23 states and Union Territories.

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22 hours ago

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August 17, 2026

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The BJP’s new 64-member team of national office bearers brings together former chief ministers, sitting MPs, women leaders and representatives from different social and regional groups as the party prepares for the 2029 Lok Sabha election.

The team, headed by BJP national president Nitin Nabin, includes three former chief ministers, 18 sitting MPs and 10 women leaders. More than 40 per cent of the members belong to deprived communities, according to the details of the appointments.

Northeast gets special focus

The new organisational team includes leaders from 23 states and Union Territories, giving the party’s national leadership a broad geographical representation.

The Northeast has received particular attention, with three leaders from Tripura, Assam and Nagaland included in the team. The BJP’s North-East Coordination Cell will also continue to function under the leadership of Sambit Patra.

The team includes four tribal representatives, with one each from West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and the Northeast. Two of these representatives are women.

Three members from Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh represent the Scheduled Castes in the new team.

Representation across communities

The BJP’s national office bearers also include 10 experienced women leaders from different parts of the country.

The team has representation from different religious communities, including one Sikh, two Christians, one Muslim, one Jain and one Parsi member, alongside Hindu leaders.

Former chief ministers and MPs add experience

The organisational team brings considerable administrative and political experience, with former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb among the members.

Four leaders with previous experience in the Union government and one sitting Union minister are also part of the team.

The new national office bearers include 18 sitting Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, bringing legislative experience and their connection with constituencies to the organisation.

Professionals and younger leaders add to the team

The team also brings together people from varied professional and academic backgrounds. It includes two professors, four practising doctors, as well as PhD holders, engineers, chartered accountants and lawyers.

The appointments to various Morchas are expected to bring organisational experience, fresh energy and domain expertise to the BJP’s national team.

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