In a written reply in the UP Assembly, the CM said 72 ministers had claimed an amount of Rs 8.78 crore as "pocket money" between 2012 and 2016 for food and other incidental expenses during official tours within and outside the state.
In stark contrast to UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's oft-proclaimed commitment to austerity measures in his government, his ministers spent a whopping amount of about Rs 9 crore over the past four years on "chai paani" (refreshments).
In a written reply in the UP Assembly, the CM said 72 ministers had claimed an amount of Rs 8.78 crore as "pocket money" between 2012 and 2016 for food and other incidental expenses during official tours within and outside the state.
The ministers get an allowance of Rs 2,500 per day for tours within UP and Rs 3,000 per day outside the state. But, in practice, most of this amount is spent on feeding personal visitors, supporters or lackeys. The ministers can claim this amount without providing vouchers or any other proof of the expenses supposedly made by them "for official purposes".
State Culture Minister (Independent Charge) Arun Kumari Kori, who has spent Rs 22.93 lakh as 'pocket money', tops the list of such ministers. Senior minister Azam Khan, known for his simple and frugal lifestyle, is surprisingly the second highest spender with Rs 22.86 lakh. Interestingly, Akhilesh's uncle and powerful cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav has not claimed a single rupee for his "pocket money".
"Ministers are the face of the government. They should be aware of their dignity and try to present an example before the people. But the Samajwadi Party ministers seem to be bent upon looting every rupee that they can lay their hands on," said BJP legislature party leader Suresh Khanna who had raised the question.
Flashing the list before the media, he pointed out that more than 28 ministers had claimed Rs 12 lakh or more, and a dozen had taken over Rs 20 lakh each in the name of "pocket money".
But the ministers in the dock have their own justification. "This money is not for our pockets. It is mostly spent on serving tea and refreshments to the people who come to meet us," says Azam Khan. "Is it a crime to give a cup of tea to a tired person who may have come to me with his problem from far?" he asked.
Labour minister Shahid Manzoor spoke in the same vein as he said: "We don't have any other source of income. So many people come to meet us at home or office. It's difficult to keep spending from your pocket to serve them tea and refreshments."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Representational Image")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}