Krishna, Tharoor told to vacate hotels

The government's austerity drive has now hit the External Affairs Minister and his deputy. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has asked SM Krishna and Shashi Tharoor to vacate the five-star hotels they have been staying in for several weeks.

For over three months now, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his deputy Shashi Tharoor have been staying at luxury hotels in Delhi since their official residences are under renovation.

While Krishna was staying at ITC's Maurya on Sardar Patel Marg, Tharoor was at Hotel Taj Mahal on Man Singh Road. The ministers have been footing the bill personally, but the government has now asked them to leave.

"I have requested both the ministers to vacate the hotel rooms and go to their respective Bhavans where they have come from, where they have been elected," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters.

The government had on Monday appealed to all the ministries to observe austerity in view of the pressure on its finances.

Asked about Pranab Mukherjee's request, SM Krishna said: "The government house allotted to me is not ready yet." He said he would continue to make some kind of private arrangement.