The Kerala government spent $11.21 lakh in the production of an interview with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by actor Mohanlal which was broadcast on all major channels last month, in response to a query on Right to Information (RTI).
The RTI response clarified that although government funds were sanctioned for conducting the interview, no government systems were used to produce it.
This question was asked by Riju Valamkulam, a resident of Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district.
The interview titled ‘Iruvar’ (Two People) made headlines on all major television platforms as it was the first time a popular actor had interviewed the Prime Minister.
Opposition Leader V D Sathisan on Tuesday said the use of government funds for the Prime Minister’s political campaign was evidence of how taxpayers’ money was being politically misused by the LDF government.
“We did not criticize the interview given by actor Mohanlal with the Prime Minister. But should such interviews, which were clearly done for political aims, be conducted using taxpayers’ money? The Prime Minister should return that money to the exchequer,” Sathisean said.
“The LDF government has spent thousands of crores in the last six months on its election campaign. The RDF panels created earlier have now been converted into CPI panels,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to these allegations.
