Lunch at Rs 2,000, Congress slams Loka Kerala Sabha splurge

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The details of the splurge on the three-day Loka Kerala Sabha, organized by the state government, that has been revealed attest the fact that the event was conducted in a lavish setting even as the state was reeling under severe economic crisis.
The state government spent Rs 83 lakh just for the food and accommodation of the delegates. The food, ordered for 800 delegates, was sourced from a star hotel owned by a NRI businessman.The lunch per delegate was priced at Rs 2,000, dinner at Rs 1,800 and breakfast at Rs 550.
The organizers had said that 351 delegates from 47 countries had attended the three-day event which was held from January 1 to 3. However, 69 UDF representatives comprising 46 MLAs and 23 MPs had stayed away from the event.
KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran said the Pinarayi Vijayan-government has become a symbol of lavish spending and show off.
“In the name of Loka Kerala Sabha, the government has been on a spending spree and the event was an extravaganza. It had not benefitted the pravasis in anyway,” said Ramachandran. The LDF government could not even claim of having done anything for the pravasis even after conducting such an event for two consecutive years, he said. “The event witnessed millionaires enjoying while the state government played host. No ordinary pravasi was seen at the three-day event,” he added. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged corruption behind the conduct of Loka Kerala Sabha. “It can be suspected that the number of delegates was inflated and forged food bill to loot money,” he said.