New Delhi: An RTI reply revealed that the Indian government had spent about Rs 38 lakh for a 36 hour country visit by former US President Doland Trump in 2020.
This included accommodation, meals, logistics etc, the External Affairs Ministry has told the Central Information Commission.
On his maiden visit to India, Donald Trump accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and several top officials had visited Ahmedabad, Agra, and New Delhi on February 24-25, 2020.
He had spent three hours in Ahmedabad on February 24 during which he attended a 22-km-long roadshow, paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram, and addressed a mega gathering "Namaste Trump" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the newly built Motera Cricket Stadium.
Donald Trump later flew to Agra on the same day to visit Taj Mahal.He visited the national capital on February 25 where he held bilateral talks with PM Modi.
One Mishall Bhathena in an RTI had sought to know from the External Affairs Ministry the total expenses incurred by the Indian government during the visit of the President and First Lady of the United States of America in February 2020, including the expense on food, security, housing, flights, transport, etc.
Mishall Bhathena who had filed the application on October 24, 2020, did not receive any response following which he filed a first appeal and later approached the Commission, the highest appellate authority in RTI matters.