New Delhi:External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has said that he will travel by German airliner Lufthansa
in the economy class to Belarus and Turkmenistan. He has also decided to cut down
his delegation from 20 to two members for the trip. Krishna further said that
he will not travel first class in commercial airliners. Krishna's decision follows
the severe criticism in the media of his stay in a five star hotel in Delhi while
waiting for his official accommodation to get ready. The Union Cabinet, which
met on Thursday, discussed the high expenditures incurred by ministers and lawmakers
on travel and stay, and asked them to observe austerity as the country was facing
a drought. On Saturday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee flew to Kolkata in the
economy class, thereby setting an example for others to follow.
