New Delhi:
Aam Aadmi Party Ministers of Delhi, except Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, were today given Toyota Innova cars as official perks.
A number of ministers, including Manish Sisodia, Rakhi Birla and Saurabh Bhardwaj, came to Delhi Assembly complex in official cars.
Asked if coming by such cars was reflective of practicing austerity, Mr Kejriwal downplayed it saying the party never said its ministers will not use official cars.
"We never said anything about not using cars. We said we will not use red beacon cars," Mr Kejriwal said.
The acceptance of official cars by the ministers came a day after the AAP government won a trust vote in the assembly with the Congress' support.
A number of AAP Ministers and MLAs had come to Delhi Assembly using public transport like metro and auto-rickshaws in the last few days in tune with their "aam aadmi" credentials.
Asked about the issue, Mr Sisodia said the party was opposed to the VIP culture and there was nothing wrong in taking official cars.
"We are opposed to the VIP culture of ministers and bureaucrats using red and blue beacons on their cars and not against using government cars. We are against taking big bungalows," Mr Sisodia said.
Asked whether Mr Kejriwal will also accept a government car, Mr Sisodia refused to answer.
"My car did not have fuel and I had given my ATM card to my wife. So I had to use the government car," said Mr Bhardwaj, Minister for Transport, Food Supplies and Environment.
He also defended his cabinet colleague Ms Birla accepting the car saying "she is a woman and as a minister she has to commute even during night time."