Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee spelt out the details of the United Progressive Alliance's austerity measures on Friday, saying he has advised ministers to travel in the Economy Class domestically and in the Business Class during international travel.
The Finance Ministry has asked the various ministries to ensure a 10 per cent cut in non- planned expenditure, except in expenses related to security.
Adding its take to Mukherjee's diktats, the Congress has said that if need be, its leaders were willing to travel in the cargo hold of the plane. This is an obvious dig at ministers who find it difficult to give up their First Class seats and other luxuries.
Speaking to women journalists at an interaction at the Indian Women's press corp, Mukherjee cheerfully answered questions on a wide range of issues.
He reiterated that conferences should not be held at five-star hotels as good conference facilities were available elsewhere, but dignitaries could be hosted for lunches and dinners at five-star hotels.
He has also spoken to the speakers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and asked them to hold all meetings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee in New Delhi, to curtail the related expenses. However, an exception will be made for the committees of public accounts, estimates and public undertakings, which may need to travel to other states.
Mukherjee clarified that only Congress ministers and Members of Parliament had been advised to take a salary cut, and the ministers and MPs from other political parties were free to take their own decision in the matter. He added that each ministry had its own financial advisor who could be approached about the possible measures to be taken.
Speaking on the ongoing tussle between Public Accounts Committee Chairman Jaswant Singh and the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mukherjee admitted that there was no provision for removing the PAC chairman unless he was declared incapacitated. He added that the matter was between Singh and the decision makers in the BJP, and it has to be resolved by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. If Kumar sought his advice on the matter, as Leader of the House, he would try to help her, said Mukherjee.
On the ongoing leadership crisis in Andhra Pradesh, Mukherjee, who has met a number of leaders from the state to find a solution, said the death of YS Rajasekhara Reddy was very unfortunate. "Because of the popular acceptability of YSR, it is being suggested that his son should become the chief minister. The Congress will take an appropriate decision on the matter at an appropriate time," he said.
On the seat-sharing arrangement with the Nationalist Congress Party for the forthcoming Maharashtra polls, Mukherjee said the Congress had an alliance with the NCP and leaders from the two parties were working out an arrangement.
According to sources, the seat-sharing arrangements will be announced by Monday, and the NCP will have to give up seven of its seats to the Congress. The Congress has also made it clear that the CM would be elected from among its leaders.
Mukherjee, who also serves as the president of the Congress' West Bengal unit, said the decision of the state government to cancel the allotment to land to IT giants Infosys and Wipro was unfortunate. "I will talk to the state government and request them to allot the land, as it would mean additional 5000 to 10,000 jobs in the state," he said.
Mukherjee also played down coalition partner Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's opposition to the UPA's disinvestment agenda.
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