Vijayawada: AP labour minister K. Atchannaidu is set to take his wife along on what is an official trip to Malyasia. The general administration department has issued orders for the foreign tour of Mr Atchannaidu, along with his wife, from July 19 to July 22. The government will bear the expenses, the GAD order said.

“I haven’t heard of a minister going on an official foreign tour along with his wife. Is this a joy trip or an official trip which is meant for the study of progressive methods adopted by another country? The wife is allowed only when a MP or MLA is going officially for medical treatment. Otherwise, it’s wasting people’s money,” said YSR Congress legislator Ummareddy Venkateshwarlu.

The development comes amid the controversy over the foreign tours of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, ministers and officials.

“The CM is hiring private aircraft instead of taking commercial flights. He took 34 members on his recent trip to Astana, a clear example of wasting public money," Mr Venkateswarlu said.