Goa exchequer spent Rs 500 on Kejriwal’s first visit

Panaji, Aug 1 (IANS) Apart from police deployed for security duties, the Goa exchequer bore expenses of Rs 500 for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's first visit to the state on May 22, the government told the assembly on Monday.

This amount was spent on a bouquet presented to the AAP convener.

In a reply to a question by Nuvem MLA Francisco Pacheco, Protocol Minister Dilip Parulekar said 82 police personnel were deputed for Kejriwal's security during his May visit.

"... the chief minister was received and see(n) off at the airport. He has not availed of accommodation at the state guest house. The state government has presented flower bouquet amounting to Rs 500 on his first visit," Parulekar said in a written reply.

Pacheco had asked for "the total amount of expenditure incurred by the (Goa) government during Kejriwal's visits to Goa -- on May 22 and June 28.

During his first visit, Kejriwal formally announced the Aam Aadmi Party's decision to contest the 2017 elections to the 40-member Goa assembly.

He is expected to visit Goa again in mid-August.

During his June visit, Kejriwal interacted with various sections of society as part of AAP's Goa Dialogue, a preparatory exercise for the political party's poll manifesto.

Parulekar said 82 police personnel from the security unit of the Goa Police had been deployed during the visit of Arvind Kejriwal on May 22, while 26 policemen were allotted as part of the security arrangement for the June visit.