Several Union ministers carpool to attend cabinet meeting

NEW DELHI: Several Union ministers on Wednesday carpooled to attend the cabinet meeting held at Seva Teerth as they chose to forgo separate vehicles and convoy to reach the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). This came a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked why ministers can’t opt for carpooling while going for common meetings while stressing the need to reduce their vehicle fleet, which TOI had reported on Thursday. Among those who shared rides to reach the PMO were Nitin Gadkari and J P Nadda who travelled in one car, while C R Paatil travelled with Shivraj Singh Chouhan and G Kishan Reddy. Similarly, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Mansukh Mandaviya travelled in a car from Rail Bhawan. Three other ministers — Kiren Rijiju, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and Manohar Lal — came to the Cabinet meeting in one car, while Prahlad Joshi and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat travelled together to the meeting venue. This is being viewed as a part of govt’s broader emphasis and message to people for sustainability and leading by example amid global energy concerns linked to tensions in West Asia. Earlier following the PM’s appeal, several Union ministers and chief ministers have reduced the number of vehicles accompanying them. Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah had earlier reduced the size of his official convoy.