Jamaat-e-Islami’s Daawat, in its editorial on September 19, writes: “Highlighting the need for austerity is nothing new. Emphasis has been given on austerity in the past too. But, as all these efforts have been for the sake of public consumption and for fooling the people, they have never yielded any positive result. This exercise of show or drama for some time, and that too with no interest and even questionable intentions, has always reached its logical conclusion. The same thing is happening this time.” The paper has criticised talk of austerity on the one hand and “huge amounts being spent on decoration and renovation of government offices” on the other.

Talking of two central ministers’ stay in five star hotels for 100 days, Kolkata and Delhi-based Akhbar-e-Mastriq in its editorial entitled, ‘Stay in Sheesh Mahal of our honourable ministers’ (September 10), comments: “The important thing in this matter is not why these ministers were staying in hotels and how much money was being spent on them by the government or by themselves. The real issue is that a wrong message is going to the country that when it is facing drought conditions and a large number of farmers are committing suicide, why two honourable ministers of the government were enjoying the luxury of five star hotels.” The paper adds: “Fortunately, an example was set by Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee. There is a need for strictly adhering to this example.”

Delhi-based Jadeed Khabar, in an editorial (September 17) asks: “The question is why the area of austerity in government’s non-plan expenditure should be kept restricted to expenses on travels? Why should it not include the grand style of residences of ministers and other political leaders and many unnecessary expenditures?”

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