Rahul Gandhi joins austerity bandwagon, travels by train to Ludhiana

Rahul GandhiNew Delhi, Sep. 15 : Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi travelled in the chair car of the Shatabdi Express on Tuesday to reach Ludhiana from Delhi.

After his mother, Sonia Gandhi, flew to Mumbai in the economy class yesterday, Rahul decided not to travel in the executive class of the super fast train when he arrived in Ludhiana here to inaugurate a four-day camp of young Congressmen.

Punjab Youth Congress chief and MP Ravneet Singh said Rahul will return to Delhi in the same class later in the evening.

Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday travelled to Mumbai in the economy class via flight, setting an example for all ministers.

Earlier, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee travelled to Kolkata by economy class and External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna announced that he would be travelling to Belarus in the economy class of a Lufthansa flight. He also said that he would be using commercial flights for his travels henceforth.

The move came only a few days after the ''austerity'' measures were suggested by Mukherjee. (ANI)