India Spent ₹350 Crore on PM Modi’s Foreign Visits since 2021: MEA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been making frequent foreign visits since taking office in 2014, and the cost of these trips has been mounting. A recent revelation by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has shed light on the staggering amount spent on PM Modi’s foreign visits since 2021. According to the MEA, India has spent a whopping ₹350 crore (approximately $45 million) on the Prime Minister’s foreign trips since 2021.
This figure is likely to raise eyebrows, given the current economic conditions in the country. The country is still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the government is facing pressure to allocate resources efficiently. However, it appears that the government has prioritized PM Modi’s foreign visits, which have been seen as crucial for promoting India’s interests on the global stage.
The most expensive single destination for PM Modi’s foreign visits has been the United States, where he has made four trips since 2021. These trips have cost the Indian exchequer a staggering ₹74.44 crore (approximately $9.5 million). This is not surprising, given the significance of the US-India relationship and the importance of maintaining strong ties between the two countries.
PM Modi’s visits to other countries have also been costly. For instance, his trip to Japan in 2021 cost ₹24.14 crore (approximately $3.1 million), while his visit to France in 2021 cost ₹15.83 crore (approximately $2 million). The cost of PM Modi’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2021 was ₹12.55 crore (approximately $1.6 million).
It’s worth noting that the cost of PM Modi’s foreign visits includes not just the cost of transportation and accommodation but also the cost of security, hospitality, and other logistical arrangements. The government has also spent significant amounts on advertising and broadcasting PM Modi’s public engagements abroad. According to the MEA, over ₹1.03 crore (approximately $130,000) was spent on these activities.
The MEA’s revelation has sparked debate about the priority given to PM Modi’s foreign visits. Some have argued that the government should focus on domestic issues, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development, rather than spending heavily on foreign trips. Others have defended the government’s decision, arguing that PM Modi’s foreign visits are crucial for promoting India’s interests and strengthening ties with other countries.
The opposition parties have also criticized the government for the high cost of PM Modi’s foreign visits. “The government is more interested in globe-trotting than in addressing the problems of the people,” said a senior leader of the Congress party. “The country is facing numerous challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and healthcare, but the government is wasting precious resources on foreign trips.”
In response, the government has defended the need for PM Modi’s foreign visits, citing the importance of maintaining strong ties with other countries and promoting India’s interests on the global stage. “PM Modi’s foreign visits are crucial for promoting India’s interests and strengthening ties with other countries,” said a government spokesperson. “The cost of these visits is a small price to pay for the benefits that India derives from these trips.”
The controversy surrounding PM Modi’s foreign visits is unlikely to die down anytime soon. As the country struggles to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, the government will need to justify the high cost of these trips to the public. The MEA’s revelation has raised important questions about the government’s priorities and the use of public funds. As the government looks to the future, it will need to strike a balance between promoting India’s interests on the global stage and addressing the pressing needs of the domestic population.
