This Article is From May 27, 2016

A Jaguar For Lok Sabha Speaker. It Was The 'Cheaper' Option

A Jaguar For Lok Sabha Speaker. It Was The 'Cheaper' Option

Sumitra Mahajan, Lok Sabha speaker has a Jaguar as her cool new ride. (File Photo)

Highlights

  • Jaguar XE, which costs nearly 50 lakhs, chosen for security reasons
  • Sumitra Mahajan was using a Toyota car before this
  • Sources justified the purchase saying her current car was 5 years old
New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's cool new ride is the talk of the town. She has a Jaguar worth nearly half a crore and it has been chosen for security reasons.

Ms Mahajan used a Toyota car before this.

Lok Sabha Secretary DK Bhall told NDTV that the Jaguar was the cheaper option; the other, based on security considerations, was a BMW.

The car was delivered to the Speaker's home on Monday.
 

The car that cost approximately 50 lakhs was delivered to the Speaker's home on Monday. (Representational Image)

Though there is no limit to how much can be spent on the Speaker's official vehicle, the Congress has raised objections.

"Good days have come for her. She should reconsider her decision," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

Government sources have justified the move, pointing out that Ms Mahajan's current vehicle is almost five years old.

"The Speaker is an important dignitary. For important functionaries like the chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha Speaker, security is an important consideration, which is why the government had procured a bullet proof BMW like the one in which former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee travelled. The same BMW was used by then Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat," a source said.

The Speaker's post is on par with the Chief Justice of India and sixth in line after President, Vice President, Prime Minister, governors, former presidents and Deputy Prime Minister, according to protocol.
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