Kerala Health Minister's U.S. Visit Blocked
The Kerala Health Minister, Veena George, has been denied permission by India's central government to travel to the U.S., where she was scheduled to give a lecture at Johns Hopkins University. The denial occurred just days before her planned departure, continuing a pattern of travel restrictions on Kerala officials.
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The office of Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced that her travel to the United States was blocked by the central government. Initially invited by Johns Hopkins University to deliver a lecture, George applied for political clearance three weeks in advance but received a denial just three days ahead of her departure.
This move by the Centre is not unprecedented. Earlier this year, they similarly denied state Industries Minister P Rajeev permission to attend an annual American conference in Washington. The ministers were to discuss significant state initiatives on an international stage.
The recent blockages of travel permissions have sparked discussions on the nature of federal-states relations and the autonomy of state ministers in representing their regions internationally.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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