U'khand: BJP govt spent Rs 68L on 'chai paani' in 11 months, RTI reveals
The BJP spokesperson said that such expenses are natural as many official meetings take place in the CM's office.
New Delhi: In less than a year since its formation, the Trivendra Singh Rawat-led BJP government in Uttarakhand has spent a lumpsome amount of Rs 68 lakhs on refreshments, reveals a recent Rights to Information (RTI) query.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed these expenses "natural", but also promised a probe into the matter.
"Such expenses are natural but if they go beyond a limit then it's matter of concern," BJP spokesperson Virendra Singh Bisht told the media,"Janta Darbar and many other official meetings take place at CM office. Nevertheless, CM Rawat will take cognizance of the matter."
Haldwani-based RTI activist Hemant Singh was informed via a letter dated January 22 that that Uttarakhand chief minister's office spent Rs 68,59,865 on 'chai paani' (snacks and refreshments) since it was sworn in on March 18, 2017.
Earlier this month, another RTI application revealed that Kerala Assembly speaker P Sreeramakrishnan claimed reimbursement worth Rs 49,900 for purchasing an expensive pair of eyeglasses.