Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday opted out of a chartered flight to Mumbai and instead joined some of her party colleagues in flying economy class.
Asked whether she was trying to set an example, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said: “Her simplicity is nothing new for the nation.”
“Simplicity and austerity should not be reduced to a one-line formula of mode of travel or class of travel. It should be a way of life. Please go by the principle, not individual manifestations by A, B or C.”
Asked if Ms. Gandhi was trying to send across a message to all the Ministers who had questioned the austerity measures suggested by the Finance Minister, Mr. Singhvi said: “That message went out loud and clear five days ago. And, the speed with which Ministers have responded shows that the message has gone through.”
On the Bharatiya Janata Party describing the Congress diktat to its members and Ministers on austerity as a farce, he said: “Did they even once consider such a measure? Let alone act, they did not even pay lip service to austerity.”
