PM used IAF aircraft for official tours 118 times in 2000-03

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) The Indian Air Force (IAF) provided its aircraft for the Prime Minister's official tours on 25 occasions in 2000, 37 in 2001, 20 in 2002 and 36 in 2003, the government informed the Rajya Sabha today.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in a written reply, said the Prime Minister was provided IAF aircaft on 11 occasions for his official trips during the first five months of 2004.

Mr Mukherjee said only the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Home Minister are entitled to use IAF aircraft, free of charge, for official and defence purposes.

In 2000, the Defence Minister made 46 official trips in IAF aircraft while the Home Minister made 12 such trips during that year. The figures in 2001 were 37 and 7 respectively.

In 2002, 2003 and 2004 (till May), the Defence Minister's official tours in IAF aircraft numbered 59, 73 and 12 respectively.

In 2002, the then Deputy Prime Minister made 16 official trips in IAF airaft while the figures for 2003 and 2004 (till May) stood at 63 and 13 respectively.

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