Timing of my trip was wrong, says Kerala minister who was in Germany during floods

Speaking to a TV channel, Kerala minister K Raju admitted that the timing of his Germany trip was wrong.

Kerala forest minister K Raju on Thursday issued an apology for taking a trip to Germany while the state reeled under heavy floods.

A view of a submerged petrol pump at Alappuzha district of Kerala. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

The Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) came under severe flak after Raju, a party lawmaker, left for his trip last week.

Speaking to a TV channel, the minister admitted that the timing of his trip was wrong.

“I left for Germany on August 16 to attend a programme of the World Malayalee Council near Bonn. I returned in four days but by that time, the flood situation in the state was already out of control... The timing of the trip was ill-timed and wrong,” said Raju.

Watch: Scenes of devastation as water recedes in Kerala after floods

The entire Opposition and a section of his party has demanded Raju’s sacking.