CPI (M) objects to minister staying in 5-star hotel

CPI(M) today raised in the Lok Sabha the issue of Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed staying in a five-star hotel for six months and questioned who would foot the bill of Rs 37 lakh.

CPI(M) today raised in the Lok Sabha the issue of Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed staying in a five-star hotel for six months and questioned who would foot the bill of Rs 37 lakh.

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Without naming Ahmed, CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia said "one MoS Tourism" had stayed in the luxury hotel even though the government had months back announced austerity measures because of which even meetings of Parliamentary Committees were not allowed to be held outside Delhi.

Amid chants of "shame, shame" by some members in the Opposition benches, Acharia said in the Zero Hour that he was
raising the issue as it concerned the tax payer's money.

He noted that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had asked External Affairs Minister and MoS External Affairs to leave five-star hotels two months back after he found that they were staying there.

While they left the hotels, "one MoS Tourism continued to stay in five-star hotel," the CPI(M) leader in the Lok
Sabha said, obviously referring to Ahmed, who belongs to Trinamool Congress.

He questioned how the minister was allowed to do so.

Alleging that the government's austerity rules had been violated, Acharia said, "I would like to know who will foot
the bill. Is the Tourism Ministry going to foot the bill?"