Govt doesn't pay for Kalam's foreign trips

The government today clarified that it was not paying for former president A P J Abdul Kalam's foreign trips, saying his travel expenses were borne by his hosts.

The government on Saturday clarified that it was not paying for former president A P J Abdul Kalam's foreign trips, saying his travel expenses were borne by his hosts.

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A report in a national daily March 12 had suggested that ever since demitting office in 2007, Kalam has been a "frequent flyer" and the government was "looking to see if it can put a cap on such visits".

"It is clarified that the cost of the foreign travels of A P J Abdul Kalam, former president of India, has been borne usually by his hosts and not the government of India," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.

"There is no proposal before the government to put any kind of restriction on the foreign travels of former presidents," the statement added.