Baalu regrets Kerala Ports Minister's absence at MSDC meet

Kochi, Dec 22 (UNI) Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu expressed disappointment at the absence of Kerala Ports Minister M Vijaykumar at the eighth Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) meet held here today.

Asked about the absence of the Minister, Mr Baalu, said at a press conference the MSDC Member-Secretary had invited all members of the council for the meeting.

'The Chief Minister of Goa and Ministers of six other states attended today's meeting, accepting the invitation. It is definitely disappointing that Kerala's minister did not attend the meeting. I do not know the reason,' Mr Baalu said.

According to media reports, Mr Vijayakumar's office had said the Minister had not received a 'proper and timely' invitation for the meeting. However, senior officials of the Kerala Ports Department attended.

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