Kerala minister says Centre denied permission to visit China

Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran today said he has been denied permission by the Centre to attend a tourism meet in China and questioned the motive behind it
According to the tourism minister's office here, the communication regarding denial of permission for the visit to attend the United Nations World Tourism Organisation meet (UNWTO)in Chengdu between September 11-16 was received yesterday.
Surendran, a minister in the CPI(M)-led LDF government, told PTI that the External Affairs Ministry denied permission to attend the high-profile tourism meet without citing "any valid reason" and that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would take up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We should know the reason behind denying permission for the China trip. The state government will take up the matter with the PMO. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will bring the issue to the notice of the Prime Minister," Surendran said.
The only reason could be the "narrow politics" played by BJP that resulted in the denial of permission to the trip, he alleged, adding "as of now, the possibility of attending the meet is nil".
The minister was an invitee to the 22nd session of the General Assembly of the UNWTO under the theme "Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals-Journey to 2030".

The invitation was extended by the Secretary General, UNWTO.