Aaj Ka Austerity

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan has taken deep offence to Shashi Tharoors cattle class remark on Twitter....

Tharoors India vs NDAs Bharat

BHOPAL/NEW DELHI: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan has taken deep offence to Shashi Tharoors cattle class remark on Twitter,proclaiming that for him in a democracy,people are god. Calling Tharoors remarks insensitive,insulting,the BJP leader said: Such a person has no right to be a Union minister. He added that the Minister of State for External Affairs perhaps did not know India very well: Shashi Tharoorji,those people who travel economy class are very big people. The BJP too sought Tharoors resignation. Raking up Congress duplicity,party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that while much was made of Rahul Gandhis Shatabdi chair car trip to Ludhiana,about Rs 1 crore was spent,according to reports in the press,during his recent visit to Tamil Nadu.

Janata Dal U president Sharad Yadav expanded the Tharoor example to cover others in large numbers in the Congress who do not know the condition in which people live. According to him,Tharoor does not understand any problems of the country,he understands neither Kerala,nor his own constituency. Calling the Congress drive a farce,Yadav asked: Where were they all this while? Why didnt they have simple lifestyles till two Central ministers were discovered having a nice time at five-star hotels?

Punjab cut: Camry to Corolla

CHANDIGARH: Call it austerity Punjab style. No talk of minimalistic ministers,economy class or train rides yet,but the Akali Dal-BJP government is demonstrating to the state it feels its pain by lowering vehicle-category entitlement for officers the Chief Secretary,Principal Secretaries,Financial Commissioners,Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments included. Some,of course,may debate the choice of the word 8220;lower8221;. While the Chief Secretary,who was earlier entitled to Toyota Camry,would now get Toyota Corolla,Principal Secretaries,Financial Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries will now be entitled to Honda City or Maruti SX-4.

Cong gives pay,BJP feels pinch

AHMEDABAD: The high commands diktat has kicked in in Gujarat,with the PCC issuing a circular asking its 181 elected members to opt for 20 per cent cut in salaries for the next one year beginning this month. To criticism that the partys austerity drive was just symbolic,GPCC president Siddharth Patel said gesture does not necessarily have to be big,advising the ruling BJP in the state to follow suit. Those sitting in the ruling party can do much more and prevent unnecessary expenditure, Patel quipped. State BJP general secretary Vijay Rupani had nothing to say on this suggestion. Asked if the BJP too would launch such a drive,he kept mum.

Phones to fuel,Jamp;K watches all

JAMMU: Sensing the way the wind is blowing,the Jammu and Kashmir government is working on guidelines to curb extravagance of ministers and bureaucrats in the cash-strapped state,including in phone bills,vehicle use,fuel consumption and travel and dearness allowance. A final decision is likely to be placed before the Cabinet soon.