Government doesn`t pay for Kalam`s foreign trips

New Delhi: The government on Saturday clarified that it was not paying for former president APJ Abdul Kalam`s foreign trips, saying his travel expenses were borne by his hosts.

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 APJ 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.

IANS