Pak spy Jyoti Malhotra visited Kerala on a state-sponsored trip, reveals RTI
PTC News Desk: Haryana's YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra who was arrested on the espionage charges was once hosted by the Kerala government as part of its influencer campaign to promote tourism in the state.
A Right to Information (RTI) query revealed that Malhotra was amongst the 41 social media influencers whose trips were fully sponsored by the Kerala government to mark the state as a global tourist destination. The travel was fully sponsored by the state government including the travel, accommodation and food.
During this period, Malhotra visited prominent locations such as Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar, creating content that attracted a large audience.
Meanwhile Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohammad Riyas said that they had no knowledge about Jyoti's alleged espionage activities during the time of the campaign. "We had no clue about any such connections when she was invited. It has all come out only now," Riyas said. He also clarified that had government been aware of her links, she would definitely would not have been invited.
"People know about it. Do you think the ministers or the government in Kerala would arrange everything for her to carry out espionage? This was a standard practice the tourism department has followed for years," he said. The minister also urged to verify how influencers are shortlisted, stressing that neither the ministers nor the government directly handle such invitations.
"It's a serious issue and everyone should exercise more caution. Please check the procedure," he added.
Meanwhile BJP took a potshot over the Pinarayi Vijayan led government and questioned that why the backgrounds of the influencers were not meticulously vetted beforehand.
"RTI reveals Pakistani spy Jyoti Malhotra visited Kerala on Left government invite & was state guest in a sense courtesy Tourism Dept. So Bharat Mata is blocked and Pak Spies are given RED CARPET by Left? Tourism Minister Mohammad Riyas is son in law of Vijayan. He should be sacked.. and investigated," BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a post on X.
- PTC NEWS
