New Delhi:
For the crorepati ministers fighting the government's new austerity measures, there was some relief from Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday who clarified the government's spend less drive.
Pranab, who had earlier asked SM Krishna and Shashi Tharoor to vacate their five-star hotel rooms, said he may have been misunderstood.
The Finance Minister said that the ministers have to avoid first and business class in domestic travel, but not for international travel; no conferences in five-stars hotels, but foreign dignitaries can be wined and dined in five-stars; the pay cuts are applicable only to the Congress party, the allies have to take their own decision; and the financial advisors of various ministries will decide on austerity measures.
But will the MPs and ministers fall in line? Well, at least publicly, the Congress is taking the lead.
"We will follow austerity rules. I have bought a economy ticket," senior Congress leader and Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said.
Most others chose not to comment on the issue, but the new policy seems to have few takers.
The Opposition being against the government's new austerity measures may have forced the Finance Minister to issue clarifications and make exceptions, but will this austerity drive be more than mere tokenism.
Pranab, who had earlier asked SM Krishna and Shashi Tharoor to vacate their five-star hotel rooms, said he may have been misunderstood.
The Finance Minister said that the ministers have to avoid first and business class in domestic travel, but not for international travel; no conferences in five-stars hotels, but foreign dignitaries can be wined and dined in five-stars; the pay cuts are applicable only to the Congress party, the allies have to take their own decision; and the financial advisors of various ministries will decide on austerity measures.
But will the MPs and ministers fall in line? Well, at least publicly, the Congress is taking the lead.
"We will follow austerity rules. I have bought a economy ticket," senior Congress leader and Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said.
Most others chose not to comment on the issue, but the new policy seems to have few takers.
The Opposition being against the government's new austerity measures may have forced the Finance Minister to issue clarifications and make exceptions, but will this austerity drive be more than mere tokenism.
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