ID :
192842
Mon, 07/04/2011 - 21:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/192842
The shortlink copeid
Paid my own bill for overstay to watch Wimbledon in UK:Krishna
New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) External Affairs of India S M
Krishna Monday found himself in a controversy over his
extended stay in London to watch Wimbledon tennis but
maintained the expenditure incurred during those two days were
paid out of his "own pocket."
The Minister had gone to the UK on June 29 and had
official talks with British Foreign Secretary William Hague
till Thursday. But Krishna, who was putting up in posh Bentley
Hotel, stayed back and watched the Wimbledon men's singles
semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on
July 1.
As reports emerged that his extended stay was at the cost
of taxpayers' money, Krishna told reporters that he was an
avid tennis fan "but the fact is that two days, the Indian
exchequer paid for my stay in London but for the subsequent
two days, I think it was borne out of my own pocket. I think
that should straighten the record."
The Minister also pointed out that he was "the life-long
President of the All Indian Lawn Tennis Association and I am
also the President of the Karnataka Tennis Association. So, it
is nothing unusual for a visiting dignitary or a visiting
Foreign Minister to peep into Wimbledon and take a feel of it.
"I am myself a tennis player and I love watching tennis.
I have been watching tennis since the days of Bjorn Borg in
1981. That was the first time I went to Wimbledon. So, there
is nothing new."
Krishna Monday found himself in a controversy over his
extended stay in London to watch Wimbledon tennis but
maintained the expenditure incurred during those two days were
paid out of his "own pocket."
The Minister had gone to the UK on June 29 and had
official talks with British Foreign Secretary William Hague
till Thursday. But Krishna, who was putting up in posh Bentley
Hotel, stayed back and watched the Wimbledon men's singles
semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on
July 1.
As reports emerged that his extended stay was at the cost
of taxpayers' money, Krishna told reporters that he was an
avid tennis fan "but the fact is that two days, the Indian
exchequer paid for my stay in London but for the subsequent
two days, I think it was borne out of my own pocket. I think
that should straighten the record."
The Minister also pointed out that he was "the life-long
President of the All Indian Lawn Tennis Association and I am
also the President of the Karnataka Tennis Association. So, it
is nothing unusual for a visiting dignitary or a visiting
Foreign Minister to peep into Wimbledon and take a feel of it.
"I am myself a tennis player and I love watching tennis.
I have been watching tennis since the days of Bjorn Borg in
1981. That was the first time I went to Wimbledon. So, there
is nothing new."