Pranab shows austerity, flies economy class

Kolkata, Sep 12(ANI): Setting a personal example of austerity, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday travelled from Delhi to Kolkata in economy class of a budget airline.

"It's nothing new to me. During elections and whenever I travel on commercial flights, I almost travel economy class. It's nothing new," Mukherjee said.

According to reports, Pranab would also return to New Delhi on Sunday by economy class on an Air India flight.

On Friday, in a firm message, Mukherjee said that ministers and bureaucrats who are entitled to travel on state expenses should undertake domestic travel in economy class.

Mukherjee said that austerity measures are not new and have been in the standing instructions of the Finance Committee since 2005, but have not been adhered to till now, as our situation was comfortable.

"I have suggested that in domestic services, you should try to avoid travelling executive class because the distances are not far. So, far as international flights are concerned, they can travel executive class instead of first class," Mukherjee said. (ANI)