Ahead of foreign tour, CM attracts opp's criticism

Even as the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal is yet to begin his two-nation visit scheduled next month, the opposition has stepped up its ante over the foreign junket issue.

The Chief Minister will be leading a high-level delegation to United Kingdom and Israel in the month of May.

While Manohar Lal will be on three- day visit to Israel for attending Agri Summit and hold discussions on the implementation of bilateral programmes from May 8 to 10, the tour to United Kingdom is also scheduled in May which includes address to Indian dispora and discussions on issues of mutual interest.

The announcement of CM’s foreign visit has come at a time when another senior Cabinet Minister OP Dhankar is already leading a state delegation to Spain and Argentina.

During its more than three years tenure, the BJP led Haryana Government has drawn a lot of flak for the foreign tours undertaken by Chief Minister and his Cabinet Colleagues but their love for foreign excursions has not faded away.

Last year, the fourth foreign visit of the Chief Minister to Dubai had snowballed into a political controversy with the opposition accusing Manohar Lal of squandering public money on sightseeing trips abroad and returning empty handed in terms of investments.

Now, with the Chief Minister scheduled to visit foreign countries again next month, the opposition parties, Congress, Indian National Lok Dal and Aam Aadmi Party have launched a fierce attack against the ruling BJP.