LD AUSTERITY 2 LAST

After the controversy over five-star stays by Krishna and
Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee imposed austerity measures that
included guidelines to ministers that they travel economy
class on domestic and internal flights.

Though some within the Cabinet questioned the measures,
a host of union ministers vowed to cut down on travel and
other expenses. Mukherjee himself travelled by economy class
in a budget airline to Kolkata yesterday.

"Everybody knows the way I live. I whole heartedly
welcome measures suggested by Finance Minister. It's nothing
new to me and I have been practising it for decades," Mamata
said about the austerity measures suggested by the Finance
Ministry.

Banerjee, who has not yet taken the official car, says
she will continue to travel to office in a private vehicle.

The Trinamool Congress chief, staying in a
multi-storeyed flat, showed disinclination to move to the
ministerial bungalow ignoring calls by her partymen who feel
her present accommodation is not enough for official work and
meeting party functionaries.

With a jhola (cotton bag) slung over her shoulders and
invariably wearing a cotton saree, Mamata wears a trademark
'hawai chappal'.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Minister of
State for Environment Jairam Ramesh have already announced
their support for austerity measures.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Krishna
Tirath is learnt to have cancelled her tour to New York.
Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has joinedthe austerity drive
asking officials to cut down on foreign and domestic travel.
Last week, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal
cancelled a good-will visit by a parliamentary delegation to
Egypt and Greece. PTI ARU
DDC


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