Austerity drive not at cost of security, says Pranab

Bangalore: Austerity measures that the Government has introduced are not at the cost of security for top leaders, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Bangalore.

"So far as the austerity measures are concerned, it is clearly stipulated that it will not compromise the security measures to be adopted by the Government to protect some individuals, particularly those who are more vulnerable and protected by the Special Protection Group (SPG)," Mukherjee told reporters.

The Government on September 7 announced a series of austerity measures to reduce its non-plan expenditure by 10 per cent in light of drought and slowdown in economy due to global recession.

Asserting that protective security would have to be first met, Mukherjee said the Government had requested those having SPG protection not to dilute their security cover.

"We have requested them to see that Government efforts to protect them are not diluted," the Minister noted.

Concerns have been expressed over security of Congress President and ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who chose to fly to Mumbai and Bangalore early this week by economy class in a commercial flight as part of austerity.

Similarly, the Swarn Shatabdi train in which Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi travelled to Ludhiana in Punjab early this week was stoned by miscreants in Haryana while he was returning to New Delhi, causing security concerns.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are given Z-plus security by SPG in view of the threat perception.

Admitting that flying by economy class would be a drop in the ocean, Mukherjee said if the Government was able cut non-plan expenditure by 10 per cent as envisaged, there would be a lot of savings.

"If other aspects of austerity measures are considered, the non-plan expenditure can be cut by 10 per cent, which will be substantial if we take into account our total plan expenditure," Mukherjee pointed out.

Elaborating on the objective of austerity, the Minister said in a budget of Rs 10 lakh crore, the gross budgetary support was Rs 305,000 crore and internal resource generation of the plan would be another Rs one lakh crore plus.

"If we deduct these figures, then there is substantial amount in the non-plan expenditure. If 10 per cent of that is actually reduced, then there will be lot of savings," Mukherjee added.