By RTI Activist Prakash Das
BHUBANESWAR:RTI responses received from various offices of the Government of India regarding the 2026 Venezuela visit of former IAS officer and former BJD leader V.K. Pandian have now raised significant questions.
To ascertain the actual records concerning V.K. Pandian’s visit to Venezuela, who sent him, and whether any government or international organisation had officially authorised him, social and RTI activist Prakash Chandra Das sought information through RTI applications from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the concerned Indian Missions.
Response from MEA South America Division
In response to an RTI application dated 23.07.2026, the Ministry of External Affairs, South America Division, has clearly stated that the answer is “No” regarding whether the Government of India had authorised, nominated, deputed, or assigned V.K. Pandian to visit Venezuela.
Consequently, information relating to any appointment/nomination/
The Division has also not provided any record-based information indicating that the Government of India bore the expenses of his visit.
MEA UNP Division Response
On the other hand, the UNP Division of the MEA, in its response dated 27.07.2026, stated: “There is no record of the visit with UNP Division.”
This means that there is no information regarding V.K. Pandian’s Venezuela visit available in the records of the UNP Division.
Response from Permanent Mission of India to the UN, New York
The response received from the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, New York, also stated: “There is no official record available in this Mission.”
This indicates that the Mission does not have any official record concerning the said visit.
RTI Response from the Ministry of Home Affairs
The RTI response from the Police-II Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs is also significant. The RTI application was forwarded to the concerned branch, and the subsequent response stated that the information sought was “not available in the records held by the undersigned.”
The question therefore arises: Who sent Pandian to Venezuela?
Reports published in July 2026 stated that Pandian had travelled to Venezuela, met President Delcy Rodríguez, and discussed Odisha’s disaster-management experience. V.K. Pandian himself had also stated in his social media posts that he visited earthquake-affected areas in Venezuela and discussed disaster mitigation with the President of Venezuela.
Following this, BJD MPs and leaders claimed that Pandian was taking Naveen Patnaik’s disaster-management expertise to the world and that the United Nations had sent Pandian to Venezuela. Such claims were widely propagated.
However, the available RTI records indicate that the UN did not send Pandian to Venezuela. With these facts now available, questions have arisen regarding the basis of the claims made by BJD leaders, MPs and workers and the manner in which the visit was publicly presented.
But the RTI responses received from the Government of India now bring a fundamental question to the forefront: If this was not an official assignment of the Government of India or the United Nations, then at whose invitation or authorisation did Mr. Pandian travel to Venezuela, and which institution, government, or organisation facilitated the visit?
A clear answer to this question must be made public.
In addition, on 11.07.2026, Prakash Chandra Das sought information through a voluntary request from Sri Satya Sai Seva Organisation (India) and Sri Sathya Sai International Organisation (SSSIO).
Six questions were raised regarding whether there was any association, official role, overseas assignment, or any recommendation, nomination, authorisation or communication concerning Venezuela/UN involving Pandian and SSSIO.
‘No response’ to this voluntary request has been received so far.
Prakash Das Raises Questions
Based on the available RTI records, Mr. V.K. Pandian and BJD leaders now need to publicly clarify:
1. Who invited V.K. Pandian to Venezuela?
2. What was the official purpose of his visit?
3. Which organisation or government officially nominated or authorised him?
4. Who bore the expenses of the visit?
5. Was there any official linkage between the Government of India, the United Nations, or any international organisation and this visit?
6. If such a linkage existed, copies of the relevant authorisation, invitation, appointment or communication should be made public.
Following the earthquake in Venezuela, the United Nations itself had confirmed that it was providing humanitarian assistance and coordinating the international response there. However, since BJD leaders have claimed that the UN had an official role in V.K. Pandian’s visit, documentary evidence establishing such a role should now be brought into the public domain.
V.K. Pandian and the BJD should provide the relevant facts & clarification and refrain from making such claims without documentary support.
