Centre denies permission to Kerala tourism minister to visit China

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 8: Kerala's Tourism and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, who was scheduled to attend a meeting at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at Chengdu in China, was reportedly denied permission by the MEA.

According to the tourism minister's office, the communication regarding denial of permission for the visit to attend the United Nations World Tourism Organisation meet (UNWTO)in Chengdu between September 11-16 was received on Thursday.

Surendran, a minister in the CPI(M)-led LDF government, told PTI that the External Affairs Ministry denied permission to attend the high-profile tourism meet without citing "any valid reason" and that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would take up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We should know the reason behind denying permission for the China trip. The state government will take up the matter with the PMO. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will bring the issue to the notice of the Prime Minister," Surendran said.

The only reason could be the "narrow politics" played by BJP that resulted in the denial of permission to the trip, he alleged, adding "as of now, the possibility of attending the meet is nil".

The minister was an invitee to the 22nd session of the General Assembly of the UNWTO under the theme "Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals-Journey to 2030.

PTI