Close X
Saturday, January 11, 2025
ADVT 
India

PM Modi sets example by not using taxpayer money for personal festivities, RTI discloses

Darpan News Desk IANS, 07 Jan, 2025 05:16 PM
  • PM Modi sets example by not using taxpayer money for personal festivities, RTI discloses

New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to frugality and ethical governance has once again been highlighted through a response to a Right to Information (RTI) query. It was revealed that neither PM Modi nor late former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh utilised government funds for personal Diwali celebrations during their respective tenures.

This practice of not spending public money on personal festivities showcases PM Modi's virtue of leading by example, particularly in matters of public accountability and financial propriety.

Pune-based activist Prafful Sarda filed the RTI request in November 2024, seeking details about the annual Diwali festival expenditures by both leaders. Dr. Singh, who passed away on December 26, 2024, and PM Modi have both maintained that no public funds were spent on their personal celebrations.

In a response dated January 3, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) clarified that no government money was used for the personal expenses of either prime minister. The PMO’s Under Secretary and Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Parvesh Kumar, stated, "Personal expenses of the prime minister are not borne on government account. Prime Minister Office (PMO) doesn’t spend any money for PM’s personal expenses."

In light of the RTI response, Prafful Sarda expressed hope that other political leaders, including ministers, governors, chief ministers, MPs, and MLAs, will follow the same practice of not utilising government funds for personal expenses, regardless of their political affiliations.

"Hope other Ministers, Governors, CM, MP and MLA will follow the same irrespective of their political alliance," RTI activist Sarda remarked.

This revelation comes amid controversy over Prime Minister Modi’s 7.5-carat diamond gift to US First Lady Jill Biden during his 2023 visit. The diamond sparked international debate after US authorities valued it at $20,000, while India’s Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the gem, being lab-grown, had a much lower estimated value of under Rs 2 lakh.

MORE India ARTICLES

Delhi: Atishi moves into CM residence, holds first meeting with staff

Delhi: Atishi moves into CM residence, holds first meeting with staff
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has officially moved into the Chief Minister's residence in Civil Lines, previously occupied by former CM Arvind Kejriwal. On Monday, Atishi held her first meeting at the residence, engaging with the employees and officials working there.

Delhi: Atishi moves into CM residence, holds first meeting with staff

Swachh Bharat Mission: Garhwa, Jharkhand town becomes open defecation free

Swachh Bharat Mission: Garhwa, Jharkhand town becomes open defecation free
Garhwa, a non-descript town in Jharkhand has joined the list of open defecation centres, adding yet another success story to the Clean India Mission. The Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2, 2014, has achieved many milestones and landmarks in the past 10 years.

Swachh Bharat Mission: Garhwa, Jharkhand town becomes open defecation free

26 products developed under iDEX being procured, move from imitative to innovative tech: Defence Minister

26 products developed under iDEX being procured, move from imitative to innovative tech: Defence Minister
Launching the second edition of Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI 2.0) challenges and the 12th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC 12) during DefConnect 4.0 at Manekshaw Centre here, he commended DefConnect for playing a crucial role in developing the culture of innovation in the country.

26 products developed under iDEX being procured, move from imitative to innovative tech: Defence Minister

BJP will form govt in J&K and Haryana: Syed Zafar Islam

BJP will form govt in J&K and Haryana: Syed Zafar Islam
Voting for 90 Assembly seats of Jammu and Kashmir was held in three phases (September 18, September 25 and October 1), while voting for 90 Assembly seats of Haryana was held in one phase on October 5. The results of the assembly elections in both -- the UT and the state -- will be declared on October 8.

BJP will form govt in J&K and Haryana: Syed Zafar Islam

‘Rising Rajasthan’ pre-summit of Mines Department to be theme-based

‘Rising Rajasthan’ pre-summit of Mines Department to be theme-based
The ‘Rising Rajasthan’ pre-summit of the Mines Department of Rajasthan to be held in Jaipur on November 8 will be theme-based. The Mines and Petroleum Department Principal Secretary announced in a meeting regarding the preparations of the pre-summit of the department.

‘Rising Rajasthan’ pre-summit of Mines Department to be theme-based

Children should be taught about importance of wildlife: MP Guv

Children should be taught about importance of wildlife: MP Guv
Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel said on Monday that children should be taught about the importance of forests, wildlife, and biodiversity at an early age. He advised that parents should also make children aware of and sensitise them to the importance and necessity of bio-conservation.

Children should be taught about importance of wildlife: MP Guv