Trendiya

Sonia Gandhi flew economy class yesterday and Rahul Gandhi traveled on Shatabdi train. Is it a political drama or hype to get more votes or are they genuinely concerned about our hard earned and paid income tax.

Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday, Sep 14 travelled to Mumbai in the economy class via flight, setting an example for all ministers. In fact, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee travelled to Kolkata by economy class and External Affairs Minister SM Krishna traveled to Belarus in the economy class of a Lufthansa flight. He also said that he would be using commercial flights for his travels henceforth.

It has been almost a week that all news channel and TV channels are going gaga over austerity drive by the central government and congress party. It started few days back when the government asked foreign minister S M Krishna and his deputy Shashi Tharoor to give up the five-star accommodation they were enjoying in Delhi even if they were paying from own pockets. And so what if union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar didn’t like cost-cutting in travelling saying business class provides comfort, privacy and allows them to clear files even while flying.

The effect is that now Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel had to travel to Mumbai by the low-cost carrier Indigo and Union heavy industries minister Vilasrao Deshmukh came to Mumbai from Delhi by SpiceJet and Union power minister Sushilkumar Shinde flew economy on Air India to Delhi.

Other side, railway minister Mamata Banerjee says “she has been practising austerity for decades”. Banerjee, who has not yet taken the official car, and commute in a private vehicle to office and fly in economy class and pay for own snacks. A jhola slunging over shoulders a cotton saree and hawai chappal in feet is what Mamta Banarjee’s trademark. She really lives like an ‘aam janta’ as she feels ‘commoners are the strength of the country’.

Youngsters are looking forward to seeing Rahul Gandhi in same train compartment or high flying cabinet minister in low budget flight with them. Let’s see, how long this austerity drive goes among Indian Politicians. Will they really enjoy this trend and set some example or will it create problems just like today, when Rahul Gandhi’s train was stoned. Austerity at the cost of security!